V 




Class 
Book 



CopigM . 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



TREATISE ON PLANERS 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

AND 

SUGGESTIONS FOR ECONOMICALLY 
PRODUCING FLAT SURFACES 



PUBLISHED BY 

THE CINCINNATI PLANER COMPANY 
CINCINNATI, OHIO 



V 



o to 






Copyright, 1912 

BY THE 

Cincinnati Planer Company 



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Printed and Electrotyped 

by The Maple Press 

York, Pa. 



t CLA316241 



PREFACE 

This volume has been prepared to aid those interested and confronted with 
the perplexing problems of one of the most interesting branches of machine 
building — the producing of flat surfaces quickly and accurately. 

It is the idea of the following pages to help those called upon to select the 
proper machines for accomplishng the above result as well as aiding the ex- 
perienced journeyman in the proper jigging up and use of the correct tools to 
produce the work at a minimum cost. 

Special effort has been made to treat this subject in a clear and comprehen- 
sive manner, carefully avoiding all unnecessary matter and presenting to the 
apprentice and mechanic many points pertaining to the tools and fixtures with 
which they come in daily contact and about which they are often unable to 
obtain all necessary information in order that they may use these tools correctly 
and efficiently. 

The Cincinnati Planer Co. 

February i, 191 2. 



Ill 



CONTENTS 



Page 

Work that Should be Planed 3 

Tools for the Planer 8 

Planer Fixtures 17 

Principles of Holding Work for Planing 24 

Methods of Planing Machine Parts 29 

Planer Fixtures and Gages 48 

Examples of Practical Planer Work 57 

Spiral, Radius and Arc Planing 63 

Handling the Planer 76 

Planer Cutting and Return Speeds 78 

Setting up a New Planer 86 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



THE EVOLUTION OF THE PLANER 

In the early days of machine building, the only method known to produce 
a flat surface on metal was to use a hammer, cold chisel and file. The first was 
used on the roughing process and the file to finish. Then came the planer, the 
exact date is not clear but Fig. i shows what is believed to be the first planer 
built in this country. The bed is of granite and ways are of cast iron, which 
were chipped and filed. It was built in 1832 in the old Gay and Silver Shop 
in North Chelmsford, near Lowell, Mass. This planer is still in use and has 
marked the epoch in this very useful branch of mechanics. 

If we pause here for a moment and reflect back to the first planer and then 
form a picture in our minds of a present-day high-speed planer we cannot but 
wonder at this marvelous development so that to-day the planer constitutes one 
of the most universal labor-saving machine tools in the equipment of any 
manufacturing establishment. 

Electricity has also found its way into this development so that now a great 
many of our tools have individual motor drives. Electricity has also made pos- 
sible the reversible motor drive on planers, thus dispensing- with all belts and 
making a very flexible arrangement for varying both cut and return speeds at 
the will of the operator. High-speed steel tools and their proper shapes have 
also played an important part. 

In the earlier days all roughing was done with one tool. To-day the planer 
is made to have two, three and four or even more tools for the roughing opera- 
tion, at such speeds as 40 and 50 feet per minute. 

To properly finish work on any machine in which the work is to be clamped 
securely while roughing, great care must be exercised in the right way of apply- 
ing the clamps so as not to spring the work when released after finishing or to 
clamp a casting at its weakest point. 

The contour of the finishing tool also requires some study to get the proper 
clearance in all directions, as too much clearance on a finishing tool frequently 
results in chatter as will be shown later. 

For getting an absolutely smooth and true flat or round surface, nothing 
excels the single-point tool, for instance: 

When we want to bore a really accurate hole, we use a single-pointed tool 
for the finishing cut. We often rough the hole out with a chucking reamer, or 
any other tool, but the single point puts on the finishing cut. 



2 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

It is the same with finishing flat surfaces, if accuracy counts for anything. 
The surface plate is the final test of all flat surfaces and in every instance, 
the surface plate is finished on a planer. 

No lathe builder thinks of finishing his lathe beds by anything except plan- 




FiG. i. — Old planer with stone bed. 

ing. A few rough the stock off with the milling machine to relieve the skin 
tension and then let them season, but the finishing is always done on a planer, 
not from prejudice or habit but because they know that is the way to obtain 
the most accurate results. The keen single-pointed tool cuts the metal with 



WORK THAT SHOULD BE PLANED 3 

the least distortion. The broad milling cutter forces the metal away, then it 
springs back and leaves a more or less uneven surface in every case. 

Surfaces can be planed so accurately that little or no scraping is necessary 
and builders of accurate machines can be found who dispense with the use of 
the scraper absolutely. 

For commercial accuracy nothing excels the surfaces left by the planer in 
shops where good planing is recognized and the men trained to produce it. 



Work that Should be Planed 

Generally speaking, all broad flat surfaces and particularly the parts having 
sliding surfaces, where pieces are bolted together for alignment and all parts 
requiring an accurate surface. This includes all work such as: 



Locomotive 

Frames 

Cylinders 

Shoes 

Wedges 

Driving boxes 
Printing Press 

Tables 

Frames 

Bearings 

Bases, etc. 
Laundry 

Frames 

Mangle chest 

Legs, etc. 
Engine 

Steam chest 

Valves 

Frames 

Pillow block 

Connecting rods 
Rolling Mill 

Guides 

Frames 

Bearings 

Keyway in shafts 

Tables 



Wood Working 

Saw tables 

Frames 

Knife arbors 

Knives 

Bases, etc. 
Textile 

Frames 

Guides 

Bearing stands 

Legs, etc. 
Electrical 

Motor bases 

Frame segment 
Forging 

Dies 

Guides 

Arches 

Header frames 

Bases, etc. 
Machine Tools 

Beds 

Tables 

Carriages 

Rails 

Slides 

Knees 

Columns, etc. 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



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WORK THAT SHOULD BE PLANED 5 

As it is convenient as well as necessary at times to know the names of the 
various parts of a planer, the principal parts are shown in Fig. 2. 

Also work that is long and thin, which must be free from chatter and which 
cannot stand the distortion due to local heating, should be planed. The planer 
tool distributes the heat evenly and rapidly and does not distort the work. The 
slab type milling cutter leaves the surfaces low where the cut stops and starts 
and also heats the work directly under the cutter so as to distort it, often 
disastrously. 

Principal Parts of a Planer 



1. Elevating device for raising cross rail. 


37. Friction band. 


2. Elevating shaft. 


38. Pawl for friction band. 


3. Elevating bevel pinion. 


39. Friction stop. 


4. Elevating bevel gear. 


40. Friction block for regulating feed. 


5. Elevating screw. 


41. Friction link to segment. 


6. Nut to adjust rail. 


42. Segment gear for feed rack. 


7. Arch. 


43. Loose pulley for cutting belt. 


8. Right-hand housing. 


44. Tight pulley for cutting belt. 


9. Left-hand housing face. 


45. Tight pulley for return belt. 


10. Cross rail. 


46. Loose pulley for return belt. 


11. Left-hand saddle. 


47. Pulley shaft. 


12. Right-hand saddle. 


48. Over arm to support shaft. 


13. Saddle graduations in degrees. 


49. Cam bracket. 


14. Saddle gib. 


50. Cam for shifting belts. 


15. Saddle binder bolt. 


51. Belt arm for cutting belt. 


16. Harp or swivel. 


52. Belt arm for return belt. 


17. Down feed or tool slide. 


53. Vertical rock shaft. 


18. Micrometer collar. 


54. Link tumbler to vert, rock shaft. 


19. Clapper box. 


55. Tumbler. 


20. Tool-block. 


56. Tumbler handle. 


21. Tool-block clamps. 


57. Safety locking device. 


22. Tool block taper pin. 


58. Rock shaft to shifter on left side. 


23. Rail or feed screw for right-hand saddle. 


59. Front dog. 


24. Rail or feed screw for left-hand saddle. 


60. Rear dog. 


25. Micrometer collar for cross feed. 


61. Table or platen. 


26. Feed rods for both down-feed slides. 


62. Table stop holes. 


27. Lever for engaging down feed. 


63. Table pockets. 


28. Trigger or ratchet gear. 


64. Tee slots. 


29. Feed rack for rail and side head. 


65. Table rack. 


30. Side head screw. 


66. Vees or ways. 


31. Right-hand side head. 


67. Oil roller. 


32. Left-hand side head. 


68. Bed. 


33. Side head saddle. 


69. Bull wheel shaft. 


34. Handle for raising and lowering side 


70. Wrench for all bolts. 


head. 


71. Wrench or crank handle for down feed. 


35. Feed friction. 


72. Wrench or crank handle for rail screws 


36. Friction front flange. 


73. Slide binder bolt. 



6 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

Planers may be divided into two types according to the way in which they 
are driven. The spur gear drive is the most common but there are many worm 
gear or spiral drive in use. In the former the power is transmitted from the 
driving belt, through an intermediate shaft to a large or "bull" gear which 
meshes in and drives the rack under the planer table as shown in outline in 
Fig. 3. In the spiral type the drive is through a worm which is set at such an 
angle as to mesh into the rack. 

Larger planers have a further gear reduction, using a fourth shaft, as shown 
in Fig. 4, this being known as the four-shaft drive. 

The size of a planer is given as the largest piece of work that can 
be planed on it. A 36X36X8' planer means one that will plane a piece 
36" wide and 36" high with a table that will plane a piece 8' long, 




Fig. 3. — How a planer is geared. 



this being the length of the table between pockets. Some special planers 
are made which will plane wider than they are high and are called widened 
planers but they are usually made with the height and width the same, which 
is standard. 

Small and medium sized planers are usually equipped with one tool head 
but larger planers usually have two on the cross rail and often one on each side 
of the housing below the cross rail, known as side heads. These are used to 
plane down the sides of the work and for making undercuts. They allow the 
top and sides to be planed at the same time. Their use is increasing as their 
time saving possibilities become known. 



WORK THAT SHOULD BE PLANED 



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Bull Wheel 
Shaft 




Friction Intermediate 
Shaft Shaft 



Fig. 4. — Four-shaft drive for 62x62 planer. 




Fig. 5. — Parallel drive. 



8 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



It is sometimes desirable to have the planer set parallel with the line shafting 
instead of at right angles as is usually the case. This is accomplished in two 
ways, as shown n Figs. 5 and 6. The first shows the usual method while the 
latter gives an application of the Almond quarter turn coupling, which allows 
the regular planer to be used. This is good for small planers. 













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Fig. 6. — Right-angle drive. 



Tools for the Planer 

While every shop has its own peculiarities as to the shapes and sizes of tools, 
the collection shown in Fig. 7 shows a set of tools which are recommended by 
planer builders for general work. Each tool is numbered so that its particular 
usefulness is known by its name given below. 






TOOLS 'FOR THE PLANER 



Fig. 8 is a tool for sizing out a slot such as are cut in planer tables and 
similar places. The cutting portion is a hardened steel button of the right 
diameter to give the correct width to the slot. This fits into a hole in the end 
of the tool holder and is held in place by the rod, having a mitered end for the 






12 3 




15 6 7 8 

Planer Tools. 




I. 

2. 

3- 
4- 
5- 


Right-hand rougher. 
Left-hand rougher. 
Round nose. 
Square nose. 
Square nose. 


6. 

7- 
8. 

9- 


3/8-in square nose. 
Gooseneck finisher. 
Right-side rougher. 
Left-side rougher. 


10. 
11. 
12. 

!3- 
14. 



Right-angle or side tool. 

Left-angle or side tool. 

Right-angle tool. 

Left-angle tool 

Tool for roughing out steel rack. 





Fig. 8. — Tool for sizing slots. 



set screw, to bear against and force the rod against the tool. When this 
tool dulls, it is only necessary to slack up on the set screw and turn the tool so 
as to bring a new surface into position. This restores its size and can be done 
a great many times. 



IO 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 




Fig. 9. — Other forms of sizing tools for slots. 





Fig. 10. — Finishing tool. 



TOOLS FOR THE PLANER 



ii 



Another form of tool for this same purpose is shown in Fig. 9. It is a plain 
tool with the end sawed up as shown with a small, headless screw tapped into 
one side. This spreads the points as the corners wear and keep it to size. It 
can be used to plane into a much shallower T slot than the round tool. These 
tools are also made with a small cone head screw in the end for spreading the 
points. 

Fig. 10 shows a finishing tool, for cast iron which is advocated by some on 
account or its shearing cut, the cutting edge having the long beveled face A 
at about 45 degrees to the shank as can be seen from the cross sectioned portion. 
Fig. n shows how this is modified for finishing steel. 




Fig. 11. — Finishing tool for steel. 



The tool shown in Fig. 12 is made especially for Placing the V's on the lathe 
beds, but various modifications of this can easily be made to suit other work. 
This is one of the tools in which the cutting edge is brought back behind the 
back edge of the shank, in order to avoid all digging in, which occasionally 
happens when this is not done. With the cutting edge behind the bottom of the 
tool shank it is easy to see that any springing of the tool must throw the cutting 
edge away from the work instead of digging into it. 



12 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



Lathe builders also use a modification of this as shown in Fig. 13, having 
a backward or negative rake; some using one first and some the other. In 
either case any slight chatter, left by the first tool is taken out by the second 
on account of the different angle the cutting edge makes with the work. 

A similar tool is the radius cutter in Fig. 14, the steel cutter having the radius 
desired. A hollow radius is also shown, both being in the form of spring tools. 

Figs. 15 and 16 show two forms of adjustable tools; the first is somewhat 
similar to the one shown later as being used for planing the index block holders. 
But in this case the tools are fastened rigidly in the holder A and the operator is 




Fig. 12-Tool for Finishing V's 



Fig. 1.3 



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Fig.l6-Radius Tool. 




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Roughing 

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Finishing 



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Fig.H-Tool for Planing Tongues 



Fig.l5-DoubIe Tool Holder 

Figs. 12-16. — Special planer tools. 



depended on to raise them out of the cut on the return stroke. The taper pin 
B coming down against the back of the cutters C forces them out and, of course, 
increases the distance between the cutting points. The details make the con- 
struction of the tool very plain. 

In Fig. 16 this is reversed in order to bring the cutting edges closer together 
as the blades are extended from the shank. This is for use in planing tongues or 
any other raised portions which are to be a certain width, and in this case it is 
only necessary to center the tools so that the tongue or rib will come in the 
correct position and bring the tool down over the work, as it cuts both sides at 
once and sizes it correctly. 



TOOLS FOR THE PLANER 



*3 



When there is a tendency for the tool to dig into the work, either from the 
softness of material or streaks or spots of hard metal it is a good plan to make 
a tool that will have the cutting edge behind the hinge pin in the clapper box. 





Fig. 17. — How a tool springs into or out of a cut. 



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Fig. 18. — Whalen patent planer tool. 

Fig. 17 shows the tendency of the tool to swing into the work when the cutting 

point is ahead, of the pin and away from it when it is behind the pin. The 

dotted curves show the movement of the point of the tool under cutting action. 

Fig. 18 shows a new patent combination planer tool which has many ad- 



14 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



vantages. This tool has an apron and tool block the same as a planer as well 
as a turret movement that allows the tool to be revolved in the end of the shank. 
This enables it to cut in any position, across the surface, down the sides and to 
do right- and left-hand undercutting. 

The turret or tool holding head can be set in any position by loosening the 
nut in the rear and screwing down the thumb nut on the side. This with- 
draws the locking pin, allowing the head to be turned in any position. This 
tool does away with lifting or dragging on the return stroke, on side work or 
undercutting. It is particularly useful for planing slots in the side of work, 
where a side head cannot be used to advantage. 

Undercutting Tool for the Planer 

Two undercutting tools with relief movements for the planer are illustrated 
in Fig. 19. The holder for the tool has a shank passing up through the lower 




Fig. 19. — Planer undercutting tool with relieving motion. 



end of the heavy steel body and the tool block is adapted to rock on the return 
stroke sufficiently to relieve the cutting point. 

The tool holder proper is represented by Fig. 20, and as there shown, it is 
provided with a large taper shank which fits the hole bored in the enlarged 
portion of the bar or square shank, and at the upper end of the tapered bearing 



UNDERCUTTING TOOL FOR THE PLANER 



15 



there is a straight thread for the reception of two round nuts which will be seen 
in Fig. 19. The squared bar or shank A for the whole tool, is 2 1/4 inches on a 
side and the length overall is 16 7/8 inches. The opening in the tool holder is 
1 1/4 inches square and the whole affair is a heavy tool designed for severe, 
everyday service. 

The rocking tool holder B takes a substantial bearing in the semi-circular 
seat and during the cut the planing tool bears solidly upon the shoulder C at 
the front of the tool bar, against which it is held by a spring plunger P, Fig. 20, 
that presses against the inner face of the hook- shaped strap D. This attach- 
ment, by the way, also helps to stiffen the tool under action, as the hooked end 



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Spring Plug 
Fig. 20. — Tool holder used in undercutting tool for planer. 

then engages the upper corner of the tool holder, as shown in the illustration. 
Upon the return stroke of the planer, the spring plug permits the tool holder to 
rock back in its seat sufficiently to relieve the cutting edge. 

Of the two tools in Fig. 19, one is shown set right-hand, the other left. 
Both may be set either hand, however, by simply removing a screw from hook 
D and transferring that member to the other side of the tool bar. The recess at 
E is formed in both sides of the bar and admits a circular boss on D so that it 
may be applied with ease to either side of the tool. There is, of course, a spring 
plunger at each side of the tool holder so that if operates equally well from either 
side. 



i6 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



Supporting Overhanging Tools 

It is one of the first principles of planing or, in fact, of almost any machine 
work, that the cutting tool should be supported as rigidly as possible, and the 
overhang reduced to the lowest point. There are many cases, however, where 
on account of projections on the piece to be planed it is absolutely necessary 
to have the cross rail of the planer at a considerable height above the surface 
to be planed, in order to clear this projection. This means overhang in spite 
of everything that can be done, and to offset this the planer tools have long, 




Fig. 21. — Supporting overhanging tools. 



heavy shanks so as to be stiff as possible. Even with this, however, it usually 
prevents the taking of a good cut on account of the spring of the tool, and as a 
cure for this disease the plan shown in Fig. 21 is suggested. This is a strongly 
ribbed arm which projects from the housing and carries an adjusting screw in 
the end so as to make a positive support for the shank of the tool, or the tool 
holder in this case, as close to the cutting point as is possible. While this 
is not as good as though the entire overhang could be avoided, it is a decided 
improvement over the usual method of support and allows a fairly good cut 
to be taken, and also makes it possible to secure a more accurate job. 



STOPS AND OTHER PLANER FURNITURE 



17 



This is a large piece of work, and while it may not be possible to adopt this 
particular form of tool support in all cases, it gives an idea which can be adapted 
to suit many conditions. In this case it is connected to the elevating screw of 
the cross rail so that it can be easily moved into any desired position. One 
of these on each side makes it possible to use two cutting tools and get good 
results from them both. 

Stops and Other Planer Furniture 

Several clamps or stop blocks are shown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24, the first two 
being the more common and easier to make. They are made of square-ma- 
chine steel with the end turned down to fit the round holes in the planer table 





Fig. 22 



Fig. 23 




Fig. 24 



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Fig- 25 Fig. 26 

Figs. 2*2-26. — A group of screw stops. 

and the square portion above is tapped for one or two set screws according to the 
work it is designed for. If arranged for two screws as in Fig. 22, it is particularly 
useful in a corner as one set screw can go against each side of the piece. It also 
gives practically two blocks as in some cases it is much more convenient to 
have the screws high or low as the case may be. 

The blocks and fixtures shown in Fig. 27 will handle a large variety of work. 
The blocks A A A are planed to fit the T slots and hook under the slot as with 
Figs. 24 to 26. The surfaces above the table must be planed parallel to the 



i8 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



portion that fits the slot and with the faces all the same distance from it. 
These, with the screw blocks B B B shown in the next slot make an excellent 
method of holding a large variety of work and, if the plain blocks are square, 
there is no need of testing the work for parallel when clamping it in place. 
The bolts at C C C screw into special nuts which fit the T slots and prevent 
turning. 

The stops at D D D D are plain pieces of machine steel with the ends turned 
to fit the holes in the table. These should be made in two or three heights 
but it is seldom advisable to use them over 6 inches high, while 2, 3 and 4 inches 
will be found more useful in most cases. In the positions shown they reinforce 
each other by using a block between, so that the work is being held against the 
cut by four screw stops instead of two. 




Fig. 27. — Work-holding blocks, bolts and stops. 



Fig. 23 is very similar to the other except that the set screw is at an angle 
which will be found very useful in many cases as it forces the work down on the 
table. Figs. 24 to 26 make very rigid clamps and when work is held between a 
number of these and a substantial angle plate on the other side, it is very similar 
to a planer chuck as in Fig. 28, and the angle of the screw in Fig. 9 is perhaps 
excessive in the sketch, but it will naturally vary with the work in hand. 

Parallel strips are a necessity among planer furnishings, but instead of 
making them of cast iron and having them carefully planed up as formerly, a 
number of shops are using cold drawn steel bars for this purpose. By using 
a little care in the selection of these and measuring them so as to secure uni- 



STOPS AND OTHER PLANER FURNITURE 



19 



formity, it is generally possible to buy the material practically as accurate as the 
average parallel strip is planed up, and as all that is necessary is to saw them to 




Fig. 28. — Holding work between a parallel and screw stops. 

any desired length from the bar, they are decidedly cheaper to make. In order 
to avoid having an extremely large number of parallels, it is quite customary to 



Fig. 29. — Using blocks to raise work from the table. 

plane some of these in steps as shown in Fig. 29, so that they will accommodate 
a number of different heights. 



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Fig. 30. — A set of useful clamping blocks. 

The best proportion for these must be determined by each shop according 
to its own particular work, but a suggestion may possibly be had from Fig. 30. 



20 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



The first shows a small parallel block which will give five different heights, 
varying by quarter inches from i to 2 inches, inclusive, according to the way in 
which it is used. 

Sets of clamping blocks made along these lines will be found very convenient 
on any planer, the sizes being varied according to the work to be done. This will 








Fig. 31. 



Two kinds of planer jacks. 



Fig. 32. 



help to keep the usual blocks of wood and other unsightly things out of the shop. 
The block shown at the right is made in three heights, varying from 5 1/2 to 
13 1/2 inches, the combination taking in almost any work that comes along in 
the average shop. 




Fig. 2>3- — Plug for planer-table hole. 

Fig. 3 1 is a cheap form of planer jack which consists simply of a block having 
a hole tapped in it for the set screw shown. Every planer should be supplied 
with all the fixtures that it needs, and a goodly stock of these small set screw 
blocks or jacks, will more than repay their cost. A man can very easily spend 



GOOD JUDGMENT NECESSARY 21 

more time hunting around for the right block than a number of these would 
cost, and these save time on practically every job that comes to the planer. 

The larger planer jack shown in Fig. 32, which can be bought of any good 
machinist's supply house — will be found useful. 

Another convenient fixture around the planer is the plug for the holes in the 
planer table shown in Fig. 33. This is easily made of bar steel and is counter- 
bored for lightness. A set of these for each planer prevents the holes getting 
clogged up with chips or dirt or of getting down on inside of bed when the holes 
go clear through the table. They are a fairly loose fit, leave the table perfectly 
smooth, and can be readily lifted out with a common horseshoe magnet. 

The Strains in Metal 

In order to secure work which is true and straight, it must not change shape 
in any way after the surface is planed. The methods of clamping and especially 
the strains in the metal itself, must be carefully considered. 

When a casting is cooling in the mold, the outside cools first, and strains 
are set up which sometimes warp the casting or even break it. But even if it 
comes out straight some strains are there waiting to show themselves when the 
surface or skin of the casting is removed. This is also true to a less extent with 
rolled or drawn-steel stock and must be watched by the planer hand who wants 
to turnout a good job. When the skin is removed, the tension is relieved on the 
side where the cut is taken and the tension of the opposite side tends to draw the 
piece into a bow shape. This can be readily seen by planing up one side of a 
bar of cold rolled steel as, when released, it will assume a decided bow, from the 
pull of the skin on the side not planed. 

This is the reason that, even with heavy lathe and planer beds, we find the 
best practice is to rough plane both the top and bottom of the bed before any 
attempt is made to finish the top side. It sometimes seems as though the time 
of taking the bed off the planer and then resetting it after planing the other side, 
was an unnecessary expenditure of time and effort. But experience has not 
only proved that it is necessary for good work, but it also shows that it is good 
practice to let the work lay for some time between the roughing and the finishing 
cuts so as to season, or to let the internal strains work themselves out. 

If to the strains of the casting is added a strain in strapping the work to 
the table, the distortion of the work after it is released can readily be imagined. 

Good Judgment Necessary 

This gives a greater opportunity for the display of ingenuity and real 
mechanical ability than almost any other machine operation and develops a 
splendid class of men; and a good planer hand is always in demand. 



22 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

The methods of clamping the work; the tool to use; the use of gages and 
measuring devices, all hold the interest of the man and develop good judgment 
that makes him valuable to himself and his employer. 

And the work is correspondingly higher grade. 

The holding of work on the table of any machine is more of an art than many 
imagine. The thrust of the cutting tool should be taken by some sort of a 
stop instead of attempting to strap the work tight enough to resist the cut. The 
clamps should simply prevent any lifting movement and they also assist the 
stops by the friction they create between the work and the table of the machine. 

By following this method carefully there will be much less springing of the 
work than by the other plan. It is very difficult to frame up any set of rules for 
this work, but the good planer man always bears in mind that the work must not 
be sprung in clamping it to the table and arranges his clamps accordingly. 

Where the work must be clamped at a point which does not reach clear 
down to the table, a block or support of some kind should be placed between 
the table and the work under the clamp to prevent springing. Place a block 
between table and work, then try top of work with an indicator, then after 
clamping try again to see if blocking, etc., have been pressed down too much by 
clamping. The use of tissue paper or thin metal is also very Common between 
the work and the table even when the work bears solidly under the clamping 
points. This localizes the bearing point on the table and avoids all tendency 
to spring the work when it is strapped down hard enough to hold it securely. 

These same precautions must be observed in making fixtures for holding 
the work. Substantial bearing points must be provided in such positions as 
to resist the strains imposed by the action of the straps or other clamping devices. 
With fixtures made properly, the work can be placed very quickly, held securely, 
and in such a way that it will not be sprung when it is released from the fixture. 

If only half the time and study that is devoted to jigs, fixtures and con- 
venient appliances on other machines, was given to the proper ways of handling 
work on a planer, the saving would be astonishing. By the making of good 
fixtures two, three, or even four heads can be used simultaneously and with 
higher speeds and coarser feeds, on account of the increased rigidity. Where 
the work is difficult to clamp, frequently only one piece is planed at a time, 
whereas if jigs were made the whole length of table could be filled, saving all 
the time required for changing tools, gauging, measuring, etc. Work machined 
this way is also more uniform, easier to fit, and saves time in assembling. 

Springing Work in Clamping 

Although it seems strange to think of a heavy block of cast iron springing 
enough to notice from the pressure of the clamping bolts, it is too often the case 
unless care is taken to avoid it. It can be taken as a good rule not to clamp or 



SPRINGING WORK IN CLAMPING 



*3 



bolt a piece of work any tighter than is necessary to prevent the tool from 
lifting it and to take the end thrust of the tool by blocks or stops at the end of the 
piece. It is also used to take as much of the side thrust or tendency of the tool 
to crowd the work across the table in the same way, and bolt down as little as 
can be done with safety. 

Springing can also be avoided by making sure that the work is supported 
directly under the strap or clamp, if at no other place, as if this is not done it 
is impossible to avoid springing the work and it will not be true when it comes 
off the planer. 




Fig. 34. — Clamping the work down on paper strips. 



It is quite common practice to use thin steel wedges or shims on rough 
castings to get an even bearing between the casting to be planed and the planer 
bed, using a wedge under four, six, or as many points as required to give a good 
support. Then when the work has been rough planed on the back side, it is 
turned over and again supported, but on strips of paper instead of steel wedges. 



2 4 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



Paper is very handy in this respect, as it comes quite uniform in thickness and 
seems to prevent smooth work slipping on the table. 

An example of this is shown in Fig. 34, the work resting on paper at six 
points, three on each side, and two thicknesses are used at each point in this 
case. This insures a good, even bearing, and the work is held down by clamps 
at the end, the thrust being taken by the end blocks or stops, two varieties of 
clamps being shown on this job. This also shows how work is grouped or 
strung along the table, so that a long cut can be taken and the cost per piece 
materially reduced. The ends which join each other are clamped by a plain 
clamp and only room enough for the bolt allowed between. 

Holding Work For Planing 

In many places the only clamp is a plain flat bar with a hole in the center 
for the bolt, or perhaps two or three holes to allow it to be placed in different 
positions. This kind of a clamp always requires blocking up at the end away 
from the work to an amount equal to the thickness of the piece being clamped. 
Some of this can be avoided by the use of angle clamps as shown in Fig. 35 and 
of course the bent end A will have to vary in length according to the work in 



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Fig. 35 



I (ML 



£7 




Fig. 38 



Fig. 36 




a Hole' 
Fig. 37 



Figs. 35-38. — Straight and bent straps or clamps. 



hand. But a few of these with the end A of varying lengths will be found ex- 
tremely useful in any planing job. Fig. 36 shows a very popular form of 
strap known as a U or hairpin clamp. It can be taken on or off by simply slack- 
ing the nut and does not require the nut to be taken off. Fig. 37 is often used 
for holding work having a hole cast or drilled into it for the point of the clamp. 
This leaves the top of the work perfectly clear. These can be made of a variety 
of shapes and sizes and the clamping point is often bent up or down as the case 
may demand. The drop forged clamp, as in Fig. 38 is coming into use in many 
places and is much neater and stronger for its weight, than the old bar clamp. 



HOLDING WORK FOR PLANING 



25 



One of the main things to remember is that in all cases the strap should be 
as nearly level as possible and the bolt must be as near the work as circumstances 
will allow. Fig. 39 gives some good and bad ways of using straps. 

Parallel strips are also convenient in clamping work to the planer table, 
as they make good supports for the back end of the strap and also help to line 
'up the work. 

The clamping bolts must be as near the work as possible so as to give the 
advantage of the leverage to the bolt in tightening the work. With the bolt 



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Fig. 39. — Good and bad ways of using straps. 



in the middle, the pressure is equal at both ends of the strap, but with the bolt 
next to the work and the other end of the strap several inches away, the work 
gets the full benefit of the strain on the bolt. If the case were reversed and the 
bolt several inches away from the work, the bolt must be strained several times 
tighter than necessary to get the same pressure on the work. 

There are so many ways of holding work to the planer table that only 
suggestions can be given as this is one of the cases where good judgment is 
worth money to the planer hand. The man who can size up a piece of work 
and know the best way to clamp it without springing it, is the kind that all 
good foremen are looking for. 

It often happens that the use of parallel strips directly on the planer table 
makes it easier to strap the work as the strips give good bearing points beneath 



26 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



the points of the clamps and at the same time hold the work level. Care should 
be taken however to provide an end stop of some kind, perhaps a small angle 
plate or a cross piece held by plugs or pins in the planer table. 

The surface gage is the most useful tool for a planer hand next to his rule or 
scale and every planer hand should have at least one of good substantial 




Fig. 40. — Using the surface gage. 

make with easy adjustments. Fig. 40 shows one of its uses. The piece of 
work shown is a slide for some machine and it is important that the two sides 
should be an equal thickness, or height from the table. So the surface gage 
is set to just touch one side and then transferred on the planer table to a similar 




Fg. 41. — Two similar taper pieces being planed on each other. 

position on the other side as shown by the dotted lines. This shows at once 
whether both sides are alike or not and how much one differs from the others. 

In planing taper work, one end must be blocked up to the required distance 
so that when the top is planed parallel with the table, the piece will be of the 
required taper. This can be done in the chuck or on the table, according to the 



HOLDING THIN WORK 



27 



work and the facilities at hand. When two similar pieces are to be planed, they 
can be placed one on top of the other, as shown in Fig. 41 and both planed 
without fixtures or blocking up. 

If many pieces are to be planed alike, it will pay to make strips of the right 
taper to put under the work so that it can be set without any measurements 
whatever. In many cases these taper strips are made part of a holding fixture 
and the work simply placed in the fixtures which both locates them at the 
right angle and holds them against the action of the planer tool. 

Small work is frequently held in planer chucks, which bolt to the planer 
table and may have either a plain or a swivel base. The main precaution in 
cases of this kind is to prevent the planer jaws cocking up as they are tightened 



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Fig. 42. — Testing work in chuck. 

and throwing the work out of true with the base of the chuck. Even the 
work itself has a tendency to be forced up as the jaws are tightened, so that it 
is always best to tap the work down with a soft hammer as it is being tight- 
ened in the chuck. 

Where the work projects beyond the jaws of the chuck, it can be very 
easily leveled by measuring the distance from the work to the table with either 
a rule as in Fig. 42 or a surface gage as in Fig. 40. Or the chuck itself can be 
tested by clamping or laying a steel rule in the chuck and measuring to the 
under side of the rule in the same way. 

Where the work is thinner than the jaws of the chuck are high, parallel 
strips are used under the work, both to raise it so that the planer tool will clear 
the chuck jaws and to make it easy to level the work. 

Holding Thin Work 



It is comparatively easy to clamp heavy work to the planer, and the most 
difficulty is experienced when it becomes necessary to plane thin pieces of work, 
as shown in Fig. 43. There are a number of ways in which this can be done, 
this being only a suggestion which can probably be modified to advantage in 



28 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



many cases. As in all other work it should be the aim to take the thrust of the 
tool by stop block and only use the clamping device for holding the piece level 
on the planer table. In this case the piece A has a sharp or serrated edge and 
the pieces B are sharp pointed tool steel so that the point will be forced into the 




Fig. 43. 



-Holding a thin plate. 



work by the set screw in the block at the end. If the set screws have cupped points 

the pieces B should be sharp at both ends, but if cone-pointed set screws are 

used, it is, of course, necessary to have one end of the pieces cupped to receive it. 

Figs. 44, 45 and 46 show other ways of holding work that is comparatively 



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Fig. 45 




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Fig. 46 
Figs. 44-46. — Clamping devices. 

thin. The first is very common but not especially desirable. If, however, the 
straps bear as near the top of the piece as possible, it answers very well. 

Fig. 45 shows a plan used to take the place of a chuck. The angle plates 
have tongues fitting the planer table slots, and are, of course, bolted down. 



PLANING FIXTURES 



29 



Set screws are provided in either or both of these, and in this case a three- 
cornered clamping block is used for the holding down. The set screw bears 
against heavily countersunk spots in the upper corner, the corner next to this 
rests on the table and makes a fulcrum, while the long end grips the work and 
has a downward movement which tends to hold the work in place. Fig. 46 
is another and somewhat similar plan for holding thin work; the jaw at the right 
has sort of hinged gripping jaws which always tend to hold the work down. 
The plan of mounting thin work on a block as in this case has advantages at 




Fig. 47. — Using magnetic chuck for planing taper gib — chuck swung up to right taper. 

times, but unless the support comes very close to the edge there is apt to be 
a bending tendency to the piece and it will be planed thin in the middle. 

On some classes of thin, light work it is possible to use the magnetic chuck 
to advantage. In this case care must be taken to take the end thrust of the 
tool by positive stops or by so arranging the work that it does not depend entirely 
on the grip of the magnetism on that piece alone. An example of this is shown 
in Fig. 47. Makers of the chucks can give many valuable points in this. 

PLANING FIXTURES 

When a man has only one piece to plane he must devise some cheap, 
temporary fixture, usually blocking of some kind, to hold it unless supplied 



3° 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 





¥ 




i 







Fig. 48. — A string of planer fixtures. 



PLANING TAPER GIBS 31 

with the planer equipment previously described. This often means quite a 
task if the piece is irregular in shape. But when a quantity is to be made it 
is necessary to make some sort of jigs or fixtures for holding them correctly 
and firmly so they can be readily put in place or taken down, if the cost of 
planing is to be reduced as it should. It often happens that it takes almost 
as long to put a piece on the planer properly as it does to plane it after it is 
in place; and as this setting time is not reduced by increased cutting speeds 
we see the importance of reducing the time for chucking or clamping. 

Fig. 48 shows a string of milling machine knees held in fixtures that support 
the front end. These fixtures fit the T-slot of the table and clamp the front 
end of the knee between the side set screws, while the lower ones at the angle 
adjust the height so as to make the piece level. The side straps hold the work 
down by clamping the screw projection against the block underneath. At 
the sides of the knee toward the back are the double screw stop blocks, one of 
which can be seen under the side strap. These fit into the table and have 
set crews running both ways through the square upright. When the lot is 
large enough, two strings of these are used at once, one on each of the outer 
T-slots and both heads put to work. 

Planing Taper Gibs 

A convenient and rapid method of planing taper gibs is shown in Fig. 49. 
This fixture is a channel provided with a raised center rib for supporting the 
gib while it is held by the six sharp pointed screws which are inclined so as to 




Fig. 49. — Fixture for planing taper gibs. 

force it down on the seat. It will be noticed that there are small lugs or pro- 
jections cast on the gib for these screws to bear against, giving them a good 
footing. 

After the flat sides are planed the gib is held in another fixture as shown 
in Fig. 50 for planing the sides or narrow surfaces. The further side of the 



32 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



fixture is undercut to the same angle, the gib being held against this inclined 
side by the four screws pressing against the four short bearing pieces shown. 







Fig. 50. — Fixture for the narrow sides of gibs. 




Fig. 51. — Fixtures for planing taper gibs. 

This makes it easy to plane off the surfaces at their proper angle without 
swiveling the planer head. 

Fig. 51 shows the fixtures used for holding other gibs and require almost 



A DOUBLE FIXTURE 



33 



no explanation. By making the fixture so that the work to be planed will 
drop into it easily, can be readily fastened, and will be held so as to produce 
the proper relation between surfaces, the time for setting is largely eliminated 
and few measurement are necessary. 

Fig. 52 shows another method of holding a short gib for planing. If this 
is used for gibs with double angle it will be necessary to cast holding pieces 




Fig. 52. — Holding a gib in a chuck. 

on the gibs so that they can be held squarely for the planing of the flat sides. 
This is a very substantial form of chuck, the cross piece holding the clamping 
screws being bolted into the desired position and also reinforced by the two 
stop pins to prevent all slipping under the cut. 



A Double Fixture 

A good example of a sensible, time saving planer fixture is shown in Fig. 53. 
This is for planing the bottom and the key of two saddle nuts at one setting. 

The nuts rest on the V's, A A A A, being held in the center by the double 
ended finger clamp B and at the outer ends by similar clamps C C. These 
have small jack screws in the outer end to give a support when they are pulled 
down in the hole by the bolts shown. A similar clamp holds down the other 
end. 

The planed V in which the work rests is parallel with a key on the bottom 
of the fixture, so that it is only necessary to slip the key into a table slot, against 
3 



34 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



a couple of stops to take the thrust of the tool, clamp the whole thing to the 
table by clamps on the projections on the end, and go to work. 

The standard steel block D fits into a dowel hole in the base and is squared 
by the two small pins shown near the base of the block. The top of this has a 
key which is the correct size of the key to be planed and it is also the correct 
distance from the center of the nut. So, instead of measuring distances, the 




Fig. 53. — A double planing fixture. 

tools are set by the steel block and the nuts come out all alike and with the 
key in the right place. A tool having two cutters as previously described is 
used for planing the key quickly . 

Arms for Vertical Drills 

Fig. 54 shows a string of six vertical drill arms being planed with relation 
to the spindle holes which have already been bored. The arms are mounted 
on a mandrel which fits the spindle holes of all six pieces and the mandrel 
located on the planer table in the blocks AAA being clamped by the clamps 
B and the end thrust taken by the cross piece C and the end stops D D. The 
planer jacks E E E are adjusted up under the lugs of the cross holes F F and 
form supports for the straps G G G. By this means the arms are all located 
correctly with relation to the spindle hole, all the plain and angular surfaces 
being finished at the one setting and with very simple tools. 



String Planing of Miller Parts 

Some of the following illustrations will give a good idea of the time-saving 
possibilities when the work is mounted in large quantities and the tools are 
gauged, thus saving all the time for resetting each job when done one at a 
time as well as the changing of the tools. 



STRING PLANING OF MILLER PARTS 



35 




Fig. 54. — Planing a string of driller arms. 




Fig. 55. — Planing a string of miller tables. 



36 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



Several good examples of string work, or planing a number of pieces at 
one setting, to save time for changing tools and gaging as would be required 
for each piece if done one at a time, are shown herewith. 

Two rows of four each, eight milling machine tables in all, are shown 
in Fig. 55. This shows how they are held against small angle pieces located 
in the outside T-slot of the planer table, these pieces fitting the angle of the 
dovetail slide on the lower part of the tables being planed. The work is forced 
against these by the small pieces which convey the pressure from the screw 
stops. The thrust of the tools is taken by the stops at the end. 




Fig. 56. — Planing saddles for taper gibs. 



Six tools are seen at work at one time putting in the table slots. 

The next illustration, Fig. 56, shows twelve milling machine saddles being 
planed for the taper gibs. The spacing and locating blocks which can be 
seen between the two strings of work, fit into the center T-slot and are made 
at the right taper with the table slot so as to throw the saddles around as can 
be seen. The way the work is held down shows practical methods and it 
will be noted that in this case it was found better to use the heads of the screws 
in the screw stops. The method of bridging the pocket in the end of the planer 
table to get a good bearing for the strap and the clamping piece may also be 
worth remembering. 

Another method of handling work of this kind is shown in Fig. 57. A 
string of these are then lined up on the planer table with the center lines in 
line with each other, and the left or bearing side of the dovetail planed to the 
correct angle. 



STRING PLANING OF MILLER PARTS 



37 



On the other side of this bearing is the taper gib, and in order to plane a 
string of these it is necessary to have each saddle swung just the right amount, 
as shown. In planing the straight side the whole string was squared up by 
the plate shown at the back, which was then turned one-quarter way 
round in order to present the side which was exactly square with the planer. 
This plate is now swung into the position shown and the edge presented to the 
work is at the same angle from the square as the taper of the gib. Backing 




Fig. 57. — Planing taper gibs. 



these saddles up against this plate and locating each one so that a sharp-pointed 
planer tool will pass over each of the center marks indicated by the intersection 
of the small cross lines and the center line, we know that they are all swung in 
the right position and are then clamped ready for planing to receive the taper 
gibs. The amount of offset can easily be seen both by the center line and 
by the small T-slot at the back. 

Still another job is shown in Fig. 58. Here eleven milling machine knees 
are being planed for the column bearing, the side head being used to plane 



3» 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 




PLANING AN INDEX HEAD 



39 



the flat surface and to cut the dovetail gib bearing at the proper angle. There 
is nothing unusual in the method of clamping. By using side head as shown 
the work need not be set up high off the table. 

Another interesting job is shown in Fig. 59, where a string of friction 
flanges for a planer is having the dovetails planed out. The fixtures are 
independent blocks having a key which fits the slot in the planer table and 
central with this, on the upper side, a recess to receive and locate the hub or 




Fig. 59. — Planing a string of friction flanges. 

the friction flanges. By having these blocks separate they are easy to handle 
and any desired number can be used according to the size of the lot going 
through the shop. 

The friction flanges are simply placed in the blocks, centered by the small 
adjusting screws shown. 

The heads are set to the proper angle and left in this position until the 
entire lot is finished, insuring everyone being exactly alike. 



Planing an Index Head 

The planing of an index head for the ordinary milling machine presents 
several interesting features and the various operations will be followed as 
they occur. 



4Q 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



The first operation on this head is the planing of the bottom surface with 
its tongue in the exact center, as this is used in locating the head on the milling 
machine and also future operations. This is planed in the usual way and the 




Fig. 60. — Planing with a double tool. 

correct width of the tongue is determined by the adjustable straddle tool shown 
in foreground of Fig. 61. 

The casting is next clamped to the table, as shown in Fig. 60, and the 



PLANING AN INDEX HEAD 41 

double tool holder is used to plane down both sides at once and to secure the 
correct distance apart for the side pieces which can perhaps be called wings. 




Fig. 61. — Using a bridge fixture. 

These are located in line with the planer by the blocking shown at the right, 
and which in the case of planing a string of these would extend the whole 
length of the planer table. 



42 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

These double tools are rather interesting, as they consist of a tool holder 
with two independent clapper blocks for holding the tools and for allowing 
them to be relieved from the cut on the backward stroke. These are very 
complete little holders, allowing independent adjustment of each tool and 
having all the advantages of regular planer tools. 

The next operation is planing the sides which would be troublesome, and 
require either blocking or jacking in between in order to overcome the spring 
due to the cut if it were not for the fixture shown in Fig. 61. This can, perhaps, 
be called a bridge, as it allows one of the sides to go underneath while the other 
is being planed the same as though it was a pefectly flat piece on the planer 
bed. The work is squared up by the angle plate shown in front and which 
fits into one of the planer table slots. The blocking and clamping is plainly 
shown and require no description. The tool is being set for the finishing cut 
to the distance block shown, which is the desired thickness of the side, and the 
method of using tissue paper in tool setting in order to be sure that the tool is 
not down on the distance block, shown in the view. 

Fitting the Block 

Planing the block which is to fit this head is a very nice job when it is con- 
sidered that the hole through the block for the indexing spindle must be exactly 
central with it. In order to accomplish this the hole is bored first and the 
mandrel, shown in Fig. 62, is then put in this hole and the mandrel supported 
on the blocks shown. On the front of the mandrel is the measuring block 
shown, which is clamped to it by the clamping screw at the back, and which 
carries two hardened steel measuring rods, one of which is shown directly 
under the tool. These rods are of exactly the same length and the inner ends 
are conical so as to afford a proper bearing for the cone point set-screw, which 
is shown between the two square heads clamping set-screws on the front of 
the block. This cone-point screw adjusts both of these steel measuring rods 
an equal amount so as to measure exactly the same each side of the mandrel 
on which this whole block is mounted. 

These are set to the desired length so as to fit the inside of the housing 
into which they are to go. This measuring block is then squared up with the 
table so that the measuring rods are exactly perpendicular to it, the mandrel 
clamped solidly to the V-blocks while the block to be planed is supported 
underneath by strips or wedges to prevent turning. The first side of the 
block is then planed until it is nearly down to the desired point, and the final 
setting of the tool is done against the steel measuring rod by the aid cf tissue 
paper, as shown. 

Then the mandrel is loosened, the whole thing turned one-half a revolution 



FITTING THE BLOCK 



43 



until the measuring rods are again perpendicular, and they are ready for the 
other side. This measuring block can be located in its second position in a 
number of different ways. By using a square for determining the position 
of the measuring rod, or after it has been squared up for the first side, a distance 
block, or an inside micrometer can be used between the table and the lower 




Fig. 62. — Using the gage block. 



measuring rod, so that when the woik is turned over, this distance between 
the measuring rod and the table will insure its being exactly parallel, pro- 
vided, of course, the first setting was correctly done. 

Another similar planing fixture is used for planing the sides of the tail- 
block holders, and is shown in Fig. 63. The tail-blocks go through about the 
same process as the index head, but this fixture allows six of them to be strung 



44 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



on at one setting and materially reduces the total planing time. As the sides 
of these are comparatively low and there is considerable weight in the base, 
there is a decided tendency for them to tip while being set, and to avoid delay 




Fig. 63. — Planing the sides. 

from this purpose the fixture is provided with set-screws on the under side 
which are screwed down until the heads bear on the inside of the piece and 
prevent their tipping. 



Large Planing Fixtures 

An excellent example of large jig planing is shown in Fig. 64. Here six 
large milling machine knees are strung on the planer table at one setting and 
both of the heads brought into operation. These are large pieces, each of the 
fixtures shown being about 30 inches high. 

The top faces of these knees are first planed with their proper dovetail, and 



PLANING LATHE CARRIAGES 



45 



the fixtures are made so as to clamp them on this surface. The fixtures are 
first carefully lined up with the bed so as to be perfectly square in both direc- 
tions, and after this it is an easy matter to swing the castings into place and 
slide them down into the fixtures by means of the overhead crane which serves 
this planer. By substituting different widths of shoes at the sides, these fix- 
tures can be used for several sizes, the shorter knees being blocked up from 
beneath so as to bring the surfaces to be planed up above the top of the 
fixture. 




Fig. 64. — String of large planing fixtures. 

It will be noticed that one side of the bearing being planed is the regular 
45 -degree dovetail, while the opposite side is about 5 degrees in the other direc- 
tion. This allows for the clamping gib to be drawn down against the other 
side of the dovetail on the column of the machine, and makes a very rigid con- 
nection between the knee and the column. 



Planing Lathe Carriages 

Some interesting methods and tools employed in lathe building are shown 
in Figs. 65 to 67, and show modern practice in the use of gages and methods 
of testing the accuracy of work. 

After the castings for the bed are well seasoned they are roughed off on the 



4 6 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



bottom, turned over and roughed off on the top, the clamps loosened up so as 
to allow strains to adjust themselves and then re-clamped and the finishing 
cuts taken. This includes the ways or V's, the rack seat, and the inner bearing 
surfaces used on this lathe. This requires two cuts, the last cut being very light. 
Some of the gaging fixtures are shown in Fig. 65, resting on the shears 
or ways. The gage A is a half templet of cast iron the same as shown in 
Fig. 69, which is reversed to test the corresponding angles of the front and back 
ways and shows any variation from the correct center distance at a glance. 









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i 


..■ . ■ . ' ■ .■■'.' ■..■■■■ ■■.,"■ ..■■ ,.■,.■■,: ■ ■■ 





Fig. 65.— Gages for testing planing of lathe beds. 



The gaging fixture B has a series of nurled head screws which test the 
planing of the flat way at the front, the seat for the lead screw bearing, and 
the straight inner bearing surface G which helps guide the carriage saddle 
in these lathes. 

In testing these surfaces by means of the nurled head screws in B, a paper 
feeler about 0.002 inch thick is placed under the flat end of the screw and 
the screw run down till the head is in contact with the fixture. If the planed 
surface is correct within the required limits, the paper feeler is pinched between 
the end of the screw and the planed surface, yet may be withdrawn readily 



PLANING LATHE CARRIAGES 47 

with the fingers, showing that there is a very slight clearance between the 
screw and the bearing surface being tested. 

This same fixture has a piece of hardened steel which projects under the 
front of the bed and acts as a gage for the rack seat. 

Gage C has two screws for testing the vertical position of certain seats 
under the head as well as several setting points by which the planer tools are 
adjusted to cut to their proper depth and to finish the sides of the seats at the 
head end of the bed. The gage point D gives a setting of the tool for finishing 
the seat E for the bearing under the head for the sliding tumbler shaft. Point 
F locates the tool for planing of! a bearing surface for a box carrying the inner 
end of the change gear shaft and corresponding in position to the hole in the 
outer end of the bed forming the outer bearing. A square-nosed tool may also 
be set at the side of gage F for correctly locating a groove to receive the tongue 
under the inner bearing just referred to. 



O Steel Plugs 
Hdn.&Gr." 



^ 




-3---! 
Fig. 66. — Angle gage for setting planer head. 



A convenient gage for adjusting the planer head to finish the V's to the 
exact angle is shown in Fig. 66. This is simply a casting about 20 inches 
long, having at one end a vertical projection with a sloping face and in this are 
two hardened steel plugs which are accurately ground and lapped to the exact 
angle required for the sides of the V. These plugs are about 6 inches between 
centers and this forms a master angle which is so much larger than the V to 
be planed than it is an easy matter to adjust the head correctly by setting 
the tool to the faces of the two plugs. The bottom and right-hand side of the 
gage is planed and scraped in locating it on the bed to be finished, it is simply 
placed across the ways and swung around to right angles by bringing the 
side against a square. 

This gage is used on all the planers for setting the heads fcr planing the 
ways of beds, saddles, head or foot stocks. It is a great help in planing surfaces 
to correct angles in fast time and reduces the work of the scrapers to a very low 
point. 

Reference has already been made to the bearing surfaces under the carriage. 
When these have been finished on the planer they are tested by the devices and 



48 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

methods shown in Fig. 67. The V's are planed the right distance apart in the 
same manner as the V's of the bed itself. The flat way B, in the front and the 
bearing surface G, Fig. 65, must be correctly located in reference to the V's, 
and these are tested as shown in Fig. 67. The gage G is a round plug which 
is dropped into the front V in the saddle, while the wing across the plug should 
just make contact with the piece of tissue paper resting against the vertical 
bearing surface indicated. The outer end of the arm fixed across the plug 
also serves as a setting gage for the square-nosed tool used for planing the 




Fig. 67. — Testing carriage bearing surfaces. 



groove under the carriage to receive a locating tongue on the top of the apron. 
The flat surface B, Fig. 67, is tested in relation to its V by placing the plug 
H in the V and resting a scale or straight edge on this plug and on the flat 
surface. The plug is ground to an exact diameter so that its top shall be 
exactly even with the plane of surface B and any in accuracy here is easily 
detected by the rocking of the straight edge used in the test. 

Using Planing Gages 

The use of master or planing gages is very clearly shown in Fig. 68, and those 
who are not familiar with this way of planing to the correct size will find it both 
interesting and instructive. It does away with all but the preliminary laying 
out, which is, of course, necessary with the first surface planed in order to have 
the castings clean up along its entire length. But after the first surface has 



USING PLANING GAGES 



49 



been correctly planed these gages provide a quick means of getting very accurate 
results and practically cut out all chance of making mistakes. 

In this case the inside or column dovetails have been planed first, and 
the knee is simply slipped down over a form or angle plate A, which repre- 
sents the column of the milling machine itself. In setting this angle plate 
it is, of course, necessary that great care should be taken to have it squared 
with the planer table in both directions, but after this is done no further 
attention need be paid to this end of the work, and the knees to be planed are 
clamped to this plate and supported at the outer end in any way that will 
prevent springing under the cut. 

The gage B, shown in place has a dovetail projection at the back which 
just fits inside the planed surfaces of this bearing of the knee, and has been 
carefully laid out so that the angular sides shown in front are in exact relation 




Fig. 68. — Using planing gages. 



to the dovetail projection which are slid into the fixture. This gage is put in 
place after the top surface of the knee has been planed, and all that is necessary 
is to set the planer head at the desired angle, 45 degrees in this case, and plane 
the angular sides until these sides are a continuation of the angular sides 
C C of the gage. When this is accomplished on both sides of the knee, the 
planer hand knows without measuring that they are correct and will fit the 
table which is to be mounted on them. 

The other gage E, shown lying on the planer table, is used in a somewhat 
similar way, being located in front of one or more carriage slides, and the 
dovetails planed until they match the dovetails of the gage. Both the work 
and the gage are located by a steel strip which fits the planer table slot and 
also the slot in the work and in the gage. 
4 



5° 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 
Gages for Machine V's or Ways 



The form of gage shown in Fig. 69 has become very popular for planing 
the ways of lathes, planers and other machinery. Instead of the gage with a 
full V at each end, which prevents your knowing just exactly where you are 
until it actually fits, the single sided gage shown, gives the correct angles as 
shown in Fig. 70. 




Fig. 69. — Gage for planing ways or V. 








Fig. 70. — Half gages for planing V's. 




Fig. 71. — Gage with micrometer screw for locating the rack seat. 

This shows a sheet metal gage used for both sides of the V and indicates 
how the center line remains the same with both the thick and thin V. 

The halfway V gage always insures getting both V's the same height and 
width as well as the exact centers. 



FIXTURES FOR PLANING TAILSTOCKS 



51 



The other gage, Fig. 71, is for locating the height of the rack seat on a 
planer table. After the V's are planed, the gage is dropped in place and the 
rack seat located with reference to the V's by the micrometer screw shown. 
This has a graduated thimble and can be read to thousandths of an inch. 




Fig. 72. — Planing gage for small lathe bed. 

This same type of gage will be found useful in other cases where the proper 
location of a third or fourth part depends on the height of the first two. 

Fig. 72 gives in outline, a gage G, made for setting tools and for planing 
a lathe bed to size. This is along the line of the gages previously shown. 

More Fixtures and Gages for Lathe Work 

The methods shown in Figs. 73 to 76 illustrate a few more special tools and 
appliances utilized in the building of engine lathes. These tools include planer 
fixtures for holding various lathe parts, one or more at a time; gages for setting 
planer tools for finishing such parts and for testing the accuracy of the work 
after planing. 



Fixtures for Planing Tailstocks 

The planer fixture in Fig. 74 is one of a set of twelve, placed, when in use, in a 
row on the planer platen for machining the lower surfaces of tailstock tops. A 
tailstock casting is shown to the left in the view, with an empty fixture in the 
center of the group, and a casting in position as it is actually held for planing, 
at the right. 

The idea is to chuck the work so that it shall be planed in the correct relation 
to both ends of the rough barrel, which in a later operation is bored out to re- 
ceive the tail spindle. It is desirable that the casting be located from the rough 
barrel ends as this will assure the hole for the spindle being bored central with 
the casting, making a neat appearing piece of work when viewed from either end. 



52 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 




'S 

> 
o 
P 
I 



I'l.ANKR TEMPLETS AND DOVETAIL GAGES 



53 



The planer fixture is fitted, as indicated, with cup centers to receive and 
locate the tailstock casting by the ends of the barrel, the cup at one end having 
an end movement controlled by a set screw, to bind the work longitudinally in 
the fixture. There are three jack screws which are brought up under the project- 
ing base of the casting. Two of these are located at the left side of the fixture 
and, when the string of fixtures are placed upon the planer, they are set cross- 
wise with the single supporting screw in advance so that the pressure or thrust 
of the cut is taken upon the two screws under the opposite side of the casting. 
The fixtures are located square upon the planer table by means of the tongue 
at the underside. After the bearing face of the tailstock has been planed and the 
groove planed across for the reception of the tongue on the upper surface of the 
bottom plate, the tailstock is scraped to its bottom plate and the hole for the 
spindle is then bored in a fixture which brings the hole parallel to the base, 
square with the crosswise tongue and central with the projecting hubs or barrel 
ends. 

Planer Templets and Dovetail Gages 

The gages in Figs. 73 and 75 are used for setting planer tools for planing the 
top slides, swivels and bottom slides for compound rests, and also for testing the 
accuracy of the planing operations. Thus in Fig. 73 a gage set consisting of 
members A , B and C is illustrated as used in connection with the planing of the 




Fig. 74. — Planer fixtures for lathe tailstocks. 



dovetail and gib bearing surfaces on the top slide D and swivel E. As here 
shown the two dovetail gages are adapted for the setting of the planer tools and 
in actual service are clamped to the platen at the end of a long row of castings. 
These gages are of steel, hardened, ground and lapped. 

Considering for a moment the application of the gages or templet A for the 
top slide, the castings are first roughed down on the top surface, then turned 
over to the position shown. The setting gage A for the tool is placed on a 
thickness or two of paper and the bottom of the slide, the dovetail surface and 



54 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 




GAGING THE WORK 55 

the straight surface and groove for the gib are roughed down and finished, the 
tools being set to the hardened gage edges for the finishing cut. When the work 
is turned over for finishing the top surface the gage is turned and clamped 
directly on the platen, without the paper underneath, and this drops the gage 
or templet just enough so that the tool, when set to the top of the gage, will take 
a finishing cut over the work. The dovetail gage B for the swivel is made use 
of in similar fashion. 

The Form of the Gibs 

A word may be said here about the gibs for these slides. The shape of the 
top slide gib is well shown at G, Fig. 73, and a gib of this type will be seen in 
place at H, Fig. 73, and also in the end view in the drawing, Fig. 76. The 
gib fits nicely against the vertical wall of the top slide and in the groove in the 
bottom of the slide, and the adjusting screws tapped in from the top, by which 
it is held in place, enable it to be drawn into its seat as far as required at either 
end to take up thoroughly any wear that may take place. 

The gib / for the bottom slide /, Figs. 73 and 75 has a tongue on the inner 
edge that fits into a groove formed behind the narrow tongue on the slide itself. 
The nature of the fit is represented in Fig. 76, which shows the clearance provided 
between the front of the groove in the gib and the corresponding face of the 
tongue on the slide. This construction allows the gib to be drawn up per- 
fectly true and square with its screws without possibility of cramping, and, as 
with the top slide gib referred to, adjustment for wear is readily effected. 

Gaging the Work 

The gages for these gibs are shown on the work in Figs. 73 and 75. It will be 
noticed in the case of the bottom slide gage K that this gage is first used as in 
Fig. 73 to test the accuracy of the dovetail surface at one side and the straight 
surface at the opposite edge for the gib, and then the inserted section L is re- 
moved from the gage and the open dovetail gage applied to the slide with the 
gib in place, as illustrated in Fig. 75. Thus the gage with its inserted jaw 
answers for the slide test with and without the gib. 

Returning now to the gages for the top slide and swivel, these are actually 
applied to the bearing surfaces in the work as indicated in Fig. 75. Here the 
gage A, which was shown in Fig. 73 as used for a planer templet for the bearing 
surface of the top slide, is represented in place on the dovetail guide of the swivel. 
The gage block C is carried by the main gage A to represent the gib while 
gaging this dovetail bearing, and this same auxiliary block C may also be at- 
tached to gage B for testing the full width of the bearing surface and gib seat in 
the top slide D. 



56 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



The gage completely assembled is illustrated in the sketch, Fig. 76 and this 
shows how the removable block C, which represents the gib, may be attached 




\*-^--A 



Fig. 76. — The gage assembled for use. 




Fig. 77. — Using all four tool heads. 

to either the male or female dovetail gage. In the sketch the block is connected 
to gage A, but upon releasing the thumb screw at the upper end of the link, the 



PLANING LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS 57 

latter may be swung down to allow the block C to be withdrawn from its seat. 
To attach the block to gage B the locking link is swung around to bring the 
clamp screw against the notched seat at the bottom of the gage. 

These gages are finished so nicely as to fit perfectly at every point in the joint. 
They are relieved along the edges that rest upon the planer when used as tool- 
setting gages, leaving two bearing surfaces about 1/8 inch wide. Another set 
for a different size of lathe rest is shown at M, Fig. 75. The removable block in 
this case is drawn into place in either of the main members by a nurled-head pin 
which has an eccentric body fitting the hole in the gage. A slight turn of the pin 
draws the block up snug in its seat or releases it. 

While some work hardly admits of using all four tool heads at the same 
time there are many cases where this means a considerable saving in time 
and money. A case of this kind is shown in Fig. 77 where a planer table is 
being planed on the under or bearing side. Both sides are being planed and 
the two heads on the cross rail are set to plane the far side of the V's, the 
near side having been finished. This shows the use of end stops and the 
way in which the bed is clamped down to the table. 

Before this is taken off the planer the seat for the rack will be planed, 
using the gage shewn in Fig. 71. 

Planing Locomotive Cylinders 

The planing cf locomotive cylinders calls for considerable ability in the 
way of blocking up and clamping the work as well as deciding on the best 
methods of getting at the surfaces to be planed without too much overhang 
to the tools. Fig. 78 shows a pair of piston valve cylinders set up for planing 
the center joint as well as the surfaces which come over the frame. 

The cylinders rest in the V blocks on the table while the saddle end is 
supported by substantial jacks or other blocking which cannot be seen. The 
cylinders are lined up parallel with the table by means of the fumed projec- 
tions which fit into V-shaped fixture to bring all the planing parallel in order 
that the two cylinders may be in line when the halves are bolted together. 

The cylinders are clamped down to the table by the long clamps, the 
holding down bolt being near the work so as to be most effective. The long 
angle braces take the trust of the cutting tool up near the surface being cut, 
which prevents the cut throwing the work out of line. These braces are 
anchored by the cross pieces against the two stop pins shown. 

This method allows three heads to be at work and divides the work up so 
as to handle it rapidly. 

Another form of cylinder and the way it was handled is shown in Fig. 79. 
This uses a side head somewhat different from usual practice, which is well 



58 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



braced so as to take a good cut even with the reach shown. The two diagrams 
make this clear. 




Fig. 78. — Planing a pair of locomotive cylinders. 




Housing 



H 






c /%. 



TCP IUI 



Housing 



e 



/ R I 




Fig. 79. — Special tool heads for locomotive cylinder work. 

It is often very advantageous to cast holding pieces on work to be planed 
as shown in Fig. 80. This enables the work to be rigidly held and yet leaves 



PLANING LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS 



59 



the surfaces to be planed perfectly clear without the work of drilling holes for 
finger clamps or similar devices. 

A very neat method of finishing flat surfaces is shown in Fig. 81. The 




Fig. 80. — Holding lugs cast on pieces to be planed. 




Fig. 8i. — Using a roughing and finishing tool together. 

fixture itself is held by the four screw stops which fit into the holes in the planer 
table. These bear against strips which hold the fixture in place on the table. 
The inside edges of the fixture are taper and taper jaws are drawn down against 



6o 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



the work by the screws whose heads are underneath the fixture. This holds 
the pieces firmly in place. 

The plan of using two tools, one for roughing and the other for finishing, 
in the same head will be found useful in many places of this kind. The 
roughing tool is in position to cut and by the time this gets across the 
work the finishing tool is ready to begin its work. This does away with 
changing tools and makes a very fast method of surfacing which makes it 
possible to beat the milling machine on work of this kind. 

Planing Crank Case Bearings 

An unusual job of planing is shown in Fig. 82 in the shape of an aluminum 
crank case for a six cylinder automobile engine. 

The top surface B holds the cylinders, the edge P being planed for a setting 
line or surface when it is turned over, so that the bearing for the crank shaft 
could be lined up with it. 




Fig. 82. — Planing a six-cylinder automobile crank case. 



Surfaces EEE and all the D's had to be planed at the same setting. Before 
planing E, the recesses F and G had to be chipped for the planing tool to 
run into in starting and stopping as in any case of this kind. 

The cam shaft runs in the bearings C C C C, and instead of boring these 
with a bar, which would have to be very long and slim, they were planed at 



PLANING CRANK CASE BEARINGS 



61 



the same setting by using a tool with a half round nose of the right size. The 
seats for the cam shaft on the other side were planed in the same way and a 
good bearing secured in this way. 

The lower half of the crank case was planed in the usual way and the 
bearings also cut with half round planer tools. In addition to the outer 
bearings A, at the ends, there are two internal bearings in line with the ribs 
on the outside of the case. These were planed to receive bronze boxes, as 
the shaft did not bear directly on the aluminum. 




Fig. 83. — Method of holding round shafting. 

The caps were also planed in the same way but none of the bolt holes drilled 
until all planing was done. Then a steel shaft was placed in the bearing, the 
cap put in place and both drilled while held firmly in line, reversing the usual 
method of doing a job of this kind. 

There are doubtless many places where a similar plan will save time and 
money as in this case, saving the cost of boring bars and doing the work in 
good time. 



Dead Jaw 



A 

-L^l 



Chuck. 



I 



H 



Fig. 84. — Holding work in chuck. 



Fig. 83 shows a method of holding round shafting or bars for splining 
and of preventing them from lifting under the cut. A single one can be cut 
in the same way. This same method can be used for holding round work 
for any other purpose and may be used more for round ends on other work. 
V blocks are also used and the shafting clamped down into them. 

Fig. 84 shows a round rod C used in a chuck between the jaw and the work 
A, to prevent the work being raised in tightening the chuck jaw. 



62 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



I . - 


'I. 


■v. x ■'■;'%*';.. x .:•'* 


I 


? r .: I--.:,-- '..■:..■•.' 




^MT / "^'1 





Fig. 85. — Planing connecting rods. 




Fig. 86. — Usinz a Cincinnati floor head. 



A CONVENIENT SPIRAL PLANING DEVICE 63 

Planing Connecting Rods 

A good manufacturing job is shown in Fig. 85 where connecting rods for 
steam engines are being planed in quantities. These are made from the flat 
bars, the sides being planed first and then a string of them set on edge, while 
the rod is shaped as shown. They are 5 1/2 feet long, 91/2 inches deep and 
are planed complete in five hours. 

The Use of a Floor Head 

It occasionally happens that a casting must be planed in such a way that 
will not permit its passing through the housings; for work of this kind the 
floor head will be found to be very handy. Fig. 86 shows this head at work 
planing a slot into a pair of housings; this head can also be used on the left 
side thereby making it possible to plane a job much wider than the rated size 
of the planer. This head is usually provided with power feeds and makes 
a very handy arrangement. 

An Emergency Job 

This is one of the many emergency jobs of planing that have to be done 
and that tax a man's ingenuity to the utmost. This is especially true of a 
job shop that gets the reputation of never letting a job go by. 

An Extension Tool 

It sometimes happens that it is necessary to plane a piece of work that is 
too wide to go between the housings. In such cases men often rig up extension 
tools which will reach across the work before it touches the housings. These are 
always unsatisfactory on account of the spring and an extension head as shown 
in Fig. 87 is much better in every way. This head is fastened to the saddle 
in place of the regular swivel and has an eye for easy handling with the crane. 
It has a complete head on its outer end and is very satisfactory for this kind 
of work when not over 3 feet wide. 

A Convenient Spiral Planing Device 

There are many different methods of cutting spiral slots on a planer and the 
one illustrated in Fig. 88 has been in use many years in the shops of Curtis & 
Marble, Worcester, Mass. 

As will be seen the roll R to be planed is mounted in the blocks and held by 
straps just so that it can be turned easily by the gearing shown. The casting 
A is bolted to the planer table and carries the drum B which turns the work to 
be planed, through the bevel and spur gearing shown. The drum is revolved 



64 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



by a chain wrapping around its periphery, one end of the chain being fastened 
to a support at the end of the planer, the drum being returned to its original 




Fig. 87. — Extension head for planing work wider than housing. 




Fig. 88. — Spiral planing device. 

position by a chain running to the opposite end and being hidden by the planer 
table. 

It will readily be seen that as the planer table moves under the cross rail the 



RADIUS PLANER ATTACHMENT 



65 



drum is revolved by the chain at the left and the work is turned according to 
the number of teeth in the spur gears. These gears can be changed so as to 
secure any reasonable degree of angle of spiral which makes this device more 
universal than is generally the case. It will also be noted that the gear D, 
on the shaft carrying the work, has a number of index holes and that an index 
pin is so located that the work can be turned any part of a revolution so as to 
have the desired number of slots located in their correct position around the 
periphery. There are probably many places where a similar device could be 
used to advantage. 




Another spiral planing device. 



Another device for accomplishing the same purpose is shown in Fig. 89. 
Here the rotary movement of the work under the tool is given by the stud 
which is attached to the work and which slides in the slot in the inclined bar. 
The angle at which this slotted bar is set, determines the amount of move- 
ment of the work and the spiral of the groove which will be cut. 



Radius Planer Attachment 

The radius attachment shown in Fig. 90, and known as the Allner-Boswell 
radius attachment, is a recent product of H. B. Underwood & Co., Philadelphia, 
Penn. 

In it a square block which is integral with the bottom plate, that is fixed to 
the planer table, transmits the driving power to the top plate always in the 
5 



66 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



direction of the reciprocating movement without giving a resulting force with 
the tool resistance, other than parallel to it. The oscillating component of the 
mechanism is produced by an enlarged pin that surrounds the square block 
kept down by a cover plate. An enlarged eye engages around the pin and with 
a retaining ring forms on its top side the setting table. For setting up, the link 
is lined up to a center line marked on the chuck. 

Owing to the very small amount of stress the radial bar is a tube and being 
comparatively light is easily handled. It permits of adjustment to radii of 




Fig. 90. — Allner-Boswell radius planing attachment. 



different lengths by means of a guide that is double-pivoted in a post sliding on 
a foot plate perpendicular to the planer direction. This radius attachment al- 
lows very strong cuts and stands up to the limit of the machine tool without 
injury. After the link has been planed, milled around the edges, the end clear- 
ances drilled and slotted, it is set up on the chuck table and the center block 
removed by parting with two tools simultaneously. This parting operation, 
including setting-up link and lifting-out block after parting has been done on a 
15-horsepower planer in 35 minutes, the link of hammered steel 31/2 inches 
deep. The attachment can be used not only on links, but also on dies, quad- 
rants, etc. 



PLANING CONVEX AND CONCAVE ARCS 



Planing Convex and Concave Arcs 



6 7 



Fig. 91 shows a fixture for planing convex arcs. The length of the link a 
corresponds with the radius of the arc to be planed; it swings freely around the 
bolt b in the bearing e, which is bolted to the crossrail of the planer. The tool 




Planer Table 



Fig. 91. — Fixture for planing convex arcs. 

box is allowed to run freely and is connected by the casting b with the free end 
of the link a. 

In operation the saddle is traversed across the rail as usual, forcing the 
link a to swing around the bolt d and causing the tool box to rise or fall corre- 




FiG. 92. — Fixture for planing concave arcs. 

sponding to the position of link a. To plane any desired radius it is only 
necessary to change the length of the link a. 

Fig. 92 shows a fixture for planing concave arcs. The idea is the same as in 
the foregoing one. The length of the link a corresponds with the radius of the 



68 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



arc to be planed. The tool box is allowed to run freely and is directly connected 
with the link a. How the fulcrum F for the link a is obtained may be easily 
seen . The whole fixture is built from flat iron 3/4X2 1/2 inches and is especially 
designed for large-sized work. The section shows the connection between 
fixture and housing of the planer. 

Another concave attachment is shown in Fig. 93, together with the work it 
does lying on the floor beside the planer. These are short pieces of mangle 











*~* jjflflfl 


SB 


^ffi«^g^--— -"* ^ 




Sr^B 


1 * 


^^IllPi 



Fig. 93. — Another concave attachment. 



chests used in laundry machinery. In this case the tool block has a worm cut 
on the arc at the top, and swivels on a stud fastened in the slide, the worm being 
driven by the chain shown through a pair of universal joints. The power is 
taken from the feed rack driven by the friction. 

Another very substantial method for planing either concave or convex 
surfaces is shown in Fig. 93A. This consists of a heavy master cam bolted to 
the housing faces and having the cam slots as shown each carrying a roller 



PLANING CONVEX AND CONCAVE ARCS 



69 



which revolves on a stud. These studs are fastened into the nuts on the down 
feed screws. As these down feed screws do not extend into the regular nut in the 




Fig. 93A. — 36 in. standard planer with radius attachment. 




Fig. 93B. — Side view. 

harp it will be seen that the slide is free to move in a vertical position and 
follow the curvature of the cam as the head is fed across. Yet the tool slides 



7 o 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



have a vertical screw adjustment for setting the depth of cut, etc. By with- 
drawing the short screw and nut and replacing the regular down feed screw we 
have the standard construction. Details of this are shown in 93B. 

Planing to a Templet 

A good example of planing to a templet is shown in Fig. 94. This shows 
a large impeller lobe for a rotary pump. The templet cannot be seen as it 
is mounted on the impeller shaft at the other end of the work, so as to be at the 




Fig. 94. — Planing impeller lobes to templet. 



beginning of the stroke. It is of cast iron, about 1 1/2 inches thick. The 
view shows the workman just setting the finishing tool to the templet. 

Fig. 95 shows the planing of a keyway in a heavy gear. The key way is 
very long and the tool must reach through the hub. A tool head is at the 
end of the bar so that the cutting tool may be relieved on the return stroke. 

Using Planer Centers 

While the use of centers in planing is not common there are places where 
it is of considerable value. An instance of this is shown in Fig. 96 where a 
guide for a fire engine is being planed so that the square, guiding surfaces 
may be central with the turned ends. These ends fit into the engine frame 



USING PLANER CENTERS 



71 



at both top and bottom and it is necessary to have the squares equally distrib- 
uted around the center line of the guide. 




Fig. 95. — Planing keyway in a long hub. 




Fig. 96. — Using planer centers. 

The work is held by some sort of a dog to the index center, and supported 
by the tail center. On long pieces a block or planer jack is placed under the 



7 2 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



part being planed to prevent springing of the piece. After one side is planed, 
the work is indexed to the next position by turning the index head by means 
of the worm and until the work is in the correct position for the planing of 
the next side. 

Cutting Oil Grooves in Gibs 

The Bullard Machine Tool Company, Bridgeport, Conn., has a small 
planer rigged up, as shown in Fig. 97, for cutting the zigzag oil grooves in 
flat gibs. 



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Fig. 97. — Cutting oil grooves in gibs. 

The bracket A carrying the rocking arm B, is placed on the cross-slide 
ways and clamped in place by setscrews; the rocking arm B is coupled to the 
tool carriage by the link C, the carriage, of course, being disconnected so as 
to be free to move back and forth on the ways; the rocking arm is given its 
motion through the connecting rod D and the block crank E, the stroke being 
regulated by adjusting the block to which the end of the connecting rod is 
fastened. 

The tool used is similar to an ordinary narrow round-nosed tool, except 
that it is relieved rather abruptly back of the cutting edge, and as the planer 
table is reversed the tool is lifted by hand and dropped into place at the begin- 
ning of the groove as the table runs back. 

There are many jobs of irregular planing which can be done easily and 
cheaply by modifications of this method. 



PLANER FEEDS 



73 



Marking Hard Castings 

As planing is usually the first operation, some shops depend on the planer 
hand to act as a guide for the following operations, so far as the hardness of 
the metal is concerned. If he strikes a casting which is harder than usual, 
he marks the word "hard" with chalk in a conspicuous place where it will 
not be rubbed off, and this is a guide to all future operations. On seeing this 
the milling machine man will adjust the speed of the milling cutters accordingly 
so as not to dull them as would be the case if run at the usual speed, and as 
milling cutters represent quite a large investment, many dollars can be saved 
in this way during a year. It is simply an example of cooperation between 
departments which should be very much more common than it is, and everyone 
in the shop should feel that they are working for the best interests of the shop 
as a whole instead of trying to make a show for their department at the expense 
of the rest. 

Planer Feeds 

On light cuts the feed of the tool should take place after the tool has cleared 
the work on the return stroke and before it starts in on the next cut. On 
heavy cuts or coarse feeds the tool should feed during return stroke as this 
will cause tool to ride on the heel and saves the cutting edge. This wear is of 




Fig. 98. — The tool lifter and how it works. 

course also prevented by tool lifters, which are simple and can be used in 
nearly all cases. They are actually necessary in planing T-slots or undercuts 
of any kind unless the planer hand wants to be sure and lift the tool every 
time. The tool lifter is shown in outline in Fig. 98 and its use in actual work 
in Fig. 99. 

The width of feed varies widely with the work being done, the average 
probably being from 1/8 to 1/4 inch. When planing to a finished edge as 
with dovetail work, a feed of 1/16 inch may be necessary to prevent breaking 
the edge where it is reached by the tool. 

Generally speaking, however, the feed should be as wide as possible on 



74 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



account of saving as many strokes as possible. If we can use a 1/4 inch feed 
instead of 1/8 inch, we have not only saved half the cutting time but half the 
time taken by the return as well. 




Fig. 99. — The tool lifter in use. 



It should also be noted that a good planer hand considers what will happen 
when the tool breaks through the cut. In many cases he chips a good bevel 



USING THE APRON 



75 







Chuck 
Fig. ioo. — Using the apron. 




Fig. ioi. — Using the apron. 



76 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

on the edge where the tool leaves the cut to prevent leaving an uneven and 
unslightly edge. This can often be avoided by casting a bevel edge instead 
of a sharp corner. 

Using the Apron 

The uses of the swivel or apron on the planer slide is sometimes overlooked. 
It is especially useful when planing vertical or angular surfaces. In all work 
of this kind the swivel should be swung out of center with the tool slide so as 
to bring the cutting edge of the tool away from the work when the clapper 
block is lifted for the return stroke. Fig. ioo shows by the lines L and R how 
the swivel should be set off to plane down the sides of the work shown in the 
cut. This is shown a little more clearly in Fig. 101 where the tool slide is 
set off to plane the angle of the dovetail and the swivel is set off still more in 
order to lift the tool clear of the work and prevent dragging and dulling on 
the return stroke. This dragging would be increased by the fact that the tool 
springs slightly away from the work during the cut and springs back again 
for the return stroke. 

Using Micrometer Dials 

The micrometer graduations on feed screws have become very common on 
many machines and is equally useful on the planer. Fig. 102 shows the dials 
on all the feed screws and also the graduations on the swivel base. These 
are better understood than the dials in many places. They can be used for 
spacing slots, etc., crosswise, also for tool adjustments to take side cuts on 
work to get the exact width without making several attempts and calipering 
after each cut thus saving time and doing away with the chances of spoiling 
work by cutting too deep. 

The use of the collars shows the exact movement given to the tool in any 
direction, more accurately than can be measured with a scale, and saves a large 
amount of time. A little practice in using these collars will be well worth 
while. 

Cutting Speeds 

The question of cutting speed is always important as well as the rate at 
which the work shall be brought back on the return stroke. More importance 
is sometimes placed on the quick return than is warranted by the results obtained, 
due to a failure to consider the real net increase in the reduction of the total 
time required. 

High speed steel has greatly increased the speed of planing as in other cutting 
operations, 55 feet per minute being about as high as can be used to advantage 
in most cases. There are several reasons for this although all do not agree 
as to the various causes. 



USING MICROMETER DIALS 



77 




Fig. 102. — Graduated swivel and collars on feed screw and side screw. 



78 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



On long, continuous cuts, the planer tools will not stand the speed of the 
lathe tool, probably due to the lack of cooling lubricant. In fact there are 
some shops where the tools stand up under a higher speed if the cut is not 
continuous. For example it is not uncommon to find that a string of lathe 
carriage tops or bridges will be planed at a higher speed than the lathe beds. 
The reason usually given is that the gap between the pieces allows the tool to 
cool somewhat between the carriages instead of keeping it at the higher tempera- 
ture during the whole of the cut. 

Practical Cutting Speeds 



While the best speeds to be used in planer work vary greatly according to 
the conditions of the work, the following suggestions should prove of value 
as a guide, as they represent the practice of some of the best shops: 



Cast iron, roughing, 
Cast iron, finishing, 
Steel castings, roughing, 
Wrought iron, roughing, 
Steel castings, finishing, 
Wrought iron, finishing, 
Bronze and brass, 
Machinery steel, 



40 to 50 feet 
20 to 25 feet 
30 to 35 feet 
30 to 45 feet 
20 feet 

20 feet 

50 to 60 feet 
30 to 35 feet 



per minute, 
per minute, 
per minute, 
per minute, 
per minute, 
per minute, 
per minute, 
per minute. 



Return Speeds 

The return speed of planer tables has undergone quite a change in the 
past twenty years. It was early discovered that the return stroke of the table 
should be at a faster speed than the cutting stroke and the two to one return 
became quite common. 

But some fifteen years ago there was an awakening all along the machine 
line and much higher return speeds came into vogue. This reached its extreme 
in a return of about seven to one and has now come back to about 75 to 100 
feet per minute, which is a fair compromise and gives the best commercial 
results. 

The sudden reversal of a heavy mass of metal requires power to stop the 
load and start it again. This action reverses the strains on the shafting, the 
gears and the keys which drive them. When this is done frequently it adds 
much to the power consumption of the tool and becomes quite a problem. 

With a return at the same speed as the cutting stroke it is very clear that the 
actual or effective cutting speed is only one-half of this. If the forward cutting 
stroke is 20 feet per minute and the return is at the same rate, the effective 
speed is only 10 feet per minute. If we double the return speed we do not 



RETURN SPEEDS 



79 



increase the effective speed nearly as much as we might think. To see just 
what this is, let us look into the question a little. 

If the planer is cutting 20 feet per minute with a 2 to 1 return, it takes 1 
minute to run forward 20 feet and 1/2 minute to return, or 1 1/2 minutes for the 
round trip. To find the actual number of feet cut per minute we must allow 
for the return stroke. To do this, call 1 1/2 minutes 3/2, divide 20 by 3 and 
multiply by 2 and we have 13 1/3 feet per minute, the time for the other 6 2/3 
feet being taken by the return stroke. 

If the return is 3 to 1, the time for the round trip is 1 1/3 or 4/3 minutes. 
Dividing 20 by 4 gives 5 and 3 times 5 or 15, shows that this only gives an 
actual cutting speed of 15 feet per minute. 

Even increasing the return up to 8 to 1 only gives 17 3/4 feet, or only a little 
over 4 feet gain over the 2 to 1 return. 

But if we increase the forward speed to 25 feet per minute the effective speed 
is 16 2/3 feet per minute with a 2 to 1 return and with the usual 4 to 1 return, it 
gives an effective cutting speed of 20 feet per minute. 

This shows that much more is gained by increasing the forward speed even 
a small amount than attempting to run a very high return speed. It is also 
very much better for the mechanism of the planer. 

The following tables will be found convenient for comparing planer speeds. 



Number of Feet Table Travels per Hour on Cut 



Speed of cut 


Speed of return per minute 


Feet 


5o 


60 


70 


80 


90 


100 


120 


150 


20 


857-I4 


900. 


933-33 


960. 


981.81 


1000. 


1028.57 


1058.82 


25 


1000. 


1058.82 


1105 .26 


1142 .86 


H73-9 1 


1200. 


1241.38 


1285.71 


30 


1125. 


1200. 


1260. 


1309.09 


i35o. 


1384.6 


1440. 


1500. 


35 


1235.29 


1321.31 


1400. 


1460.87 


1512. 


1555-55 


1625.80 


1702.702 


40 


*333-33 


1440. 


1527.27 


1600. 


1661.54 


1714.28 


1800. 


1894.74 


45 


1421.05 


1542.85 


1643-47 


1728. 


1800. 


1862.06 


1863.63 


2076.92 


50 


1500. 


1636.36 


I750- 


1846.15 


1928.57 


2000. 


2117 .64 


2250. 



Divide by length of stroke to get number of strokes per hour. 



8o 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 
The Time of Planer Travel per Foot 



Travel feet per 
minute. 


Time one foot. 


Travel feet per 
minute. 


Time one foot. 


IO 


6 . sec. 


105 


•57i 


i5 


4- 


no 


•545 


20 


3- 


120 


•5 


25 


2.4 


130 


.461 


30 


2. 


140 


.428 


35 


1 .72 


150 


• 4 


40 


i-5 


160 


•375 


45 


1-333 


170 


•353 + 


50 


1.2 


180 


■333 


55 


1.09 


190 


.316 


60 


1 . 


200 


•3 


65 


•923 


220 


•273 


70 


.857 


240 


•25 • 


75 


.8 


260 


•23 


80 


•75 


280 


.214 


85 


•7o5 


300 


.2 


90 


.666 






95 


.631 






100 


.6 







The first table shows the number of feet per hour the planer is cutting or is 
on the cutting stroke. Taking a 30-foot cutting stroke and a 60-foot return and 
we see that it gives 1200 actual cutting feet per hour. This also shows very 
plainly that it is better to increase the cutting speed 5 feet per minute, mak- 



LIGHT PULLEYS 



81 



ing it 35 feet, and keep a return speed of 70 feet per minute, than to retain 30 
feet cutting speed and jump the return up to 100 feet per minute. 

The second table puts the same information in another way, by showing 
time in seconds taken to travel 1 foot, at the different speeds shown. This 
shows that if the cut is 40 feet per minute, the time per foot is 1 . 5 seconds. 
If the return is 80 feet per minute, the time per foot is .75 second. Adding 
these together gives 2.25 seconds as the time for a foot in both directions and 
by dividing 60 seconds by 2.25 we get the exact actual cutting speed per 
minute, or 26 . 66 feet per minute. Or we can guess very near this by noting 
that 2.25 seconds per foot comes between 25 and 30 feet per minute. 

Light Pulleys 

It seems a little strange to discover that the main source of power waste in 
reversal is not due to the load of the table and the work, but to the driving 




Fig. 103. — Alloy pulleys with cast iron bushing. 



pulleys. For, while these do not weigh nearly as much as the reciprocating 
parts, these pulleys are traveling at a very high speed and storing up fly wheel 
inertia. Having discovered this, some of the leading planer builders are now 
6 



82 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

making their driving pulleys of aluminum which greatly reduces the inertia or 
the energy stored up in the pulleys, allowing them to be reversed much more 
easily and so consuming less power. 

Aluminum alloy pulleys reduce the weight about 60 per cent., and greatly 
reduce the horse power required to drive the planer. For, instead of the power 
being required to reverse the heavy table and the work being done, the power 
is consumed in reversing the high speed pulleys and fast running parts. The 
most power is taken when reversing and not during either stroke. 

Tests made by the Cincinnati Planer Company with 35 foot cut and 85 
foot return with cast iron pulleys gave 165 strokes in 30 minutes, while with 
aluminum pulleys 189 strokes were made in the same time. The stroke was 
4 feet in each case. 

This saving in time is due to the quicker response of the light pulleys in 
reversing which also makes it possible to plane much closer to a shoulder should 
this be necessary. 

In another test with a 72 inch motor driven planer, cast iron pulleys took 
39 horse-power at the reverse while only 30 horse-power was required with the 
aluminum pulleys. These figures show a saving of nearly 25 per cent, in power 
and a gain of 15 per cent, in the number of strokes per hour. 

Fig. 103 shows these alloy pulleys having a cast iron bushing so as to secure 
a good bearing. 

Slide Rule for Timing Work on Variable Speed Planers 

Figs. 104 and 105 illustrate applications of a new form of slide rule brought 
out by the Cincinnati Planer Company, Cincinnati, O., for determining the 
length of time required to machine work on planers under varying conditions 
as to cutting speed, return speed, and rate of feed. The rule is adapted for 
computations involving cutting speeds from 20 to 60 feet per minute, return 
speeds from 50 to 130 feet per minute, and feeds ranging from 1/16 to 1 inch 
per stroke. 

The upper portion of the rule has in place of the usual "A" scale, a set of 
curves representing the different cutting speeds, and the points of intersection 
with the horizontal lines representing the different return speeds, determine 
the setting of the slide, scale B of which represents the various rates of feed 
from 1/16 to 1 inch. Scale C of the slide is graduated for surface areas up to 
3000 square inches, and scale D gives in minutes or in hours the time required 
to plane any given area. 

The area of the surface to be planed, that is, the length in inches times the 
breadth, in inches, is determined at the outset in the usual manner, either men- 
tally or otherwise, as may be most convenient. 



SLIDE RULE FOR TIMING WORK ON VARIABLE SPEED PLANERS 83 







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84 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



Assume, for example, that the work under consideration is 10 feet long by 
12 inches wide, and a cutting speed of 40 feet, return speed of 100 feet and 
feed of 1/8 inch have been selected as suitable: Scale B is set as in Fig. 104, 
with 1/8 under the point of intersection of the 40-foot curve with the line repre- 
senting a return rate of 100 feet, and opposite 1440 on scale C (length times 
breadth in inches), read 33.6 minutes. 

Or, suppose the work to be 11 feet long by 20 inches wide and the surface 
to be gone over therefore 2640 square inches. Also assume a cutting speed of 
30 feet per minute, a return speed of 90 feet and a tool feed of 3/8 inch have 
been selected. The slide rule is now set, as in Fig. 105, with the 3/8 line of the B 
scale directly under the intersecting point of the curve for 30 feet and the 
line for 90 feet return speed. Opposite 2640 on the C scale, will then be found 
on the D scale 25.4 minutes as the time necessary to complete the operation. 




Fig. 106. — Two-speed countershaft. 

In figuring the length of a piece, allowance should be made if the tool over- 
runs the work at either end of piece. It will be found that this rule is very 
close to the actual figures if the reversing of the planer is prompt. 

To meet the increasing demand for more than one speed on a planer, the 
Cincinnati Planer Co. have developed the two-speed drive shown in Fig. 106, 
giving two cutting speeds to the table and a constant return. Any two cutting 
speeds wanted can be provided with this drive, and the changing from one speed 
to the other is accomplished instantly while the machine is running. 



VARIABLE SPEED ELECTRIC DRIVEN PLANERS 



85 



The drive consists of two sets of pulleys, one keyed to the shaft and the other 
a wide faced pulley running loose on the shaft. Both are driven by independent 
belts from the line shaft and run at different speeds. In addition we have the 
usual extra heavy return pulley and the cutting pulley, both keyed to the shaft 
and adjoining the wide faced pulley. By operating the lever shown at the side 
of the housing we obtain the two speeds. The high speed by moving the belt 
to the right on to the cutting pulley and the low speed by moving the belt to the 
left on to the wide faced pulley. The return belt remains in one position giving 
us a constant return of table. 

Variable Speed Electric Driven Planers 

In addition to mechanical means for varying the cutting speeds of planers of 
the newer types, the electric driven planer is also making its way. These are 




Fig. 107. — Cincinnati electric variable speed planer. 

operated in several ways by controllers and starting boxes. They are so ar- 
ranged that any cutting speed between 25 and 50 feet per minute can be obtained 
without in any way affecting the return speed. The return speed can also be 



86 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



varied from about 60 to 100 feet per minute without affecting the cutting speed. 
This makes possible many combinations such as a 40 foot cutting speed and a 
60 foot return speed or a 20 foot cut and a 90 foot return. The switches are so 





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Fig. 108. — Cincinnati reversible motor driven planer. 



set that the motor will automatically return to any particular speed for each 
stroke. 

In Fig. 108 is shown a reversible motor-driven type of planer. This drive 
enables a motor to be used which is much smaller than is usually applied on 
top of the machine, simply because there are no large pulleys to gather fly- 
wheel inertia, and have to be stopped and reversed in the opposite direction. 
Consequently there is a reduction in the peak load at reversal, and the current 
consumption is correspondingly less. Furthermore, there is an absence of 
noise. There are no belts to maintain and replace, and the planer will operate 
on a short stroke of 5 or 8 inches for hours at a time, without heating or extra 
consumption of power. This drive is particularly adapted to large planers 
where the gear ratio is high and the pulleys have more flywheel inertia, and it 
permits a more constant short stroke than could be otherwise obtained where 



FOUNDATIONS AND FLOOR PLATES 



«7 




88 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

there is stretching and slipping of belts and destruction of belts due to heating 
of the pulleys. 

In place of the usual elevating device on top of the planer, there is a small 
motor attached with a double-throw switch, one side being used to elevate the 
rail and the other side for lowering the rail, thus doing away with every belt 
on the machine. 

Foundations and Floor Plates 

The foundation is a very important matter as no planer can do good work 
unless it is substantially supported. Most planer makers supply foundation 
plans with each planer showing the kind of foundation which they have found 




Fig. i io. — Improved leveling block. 

best and the necessary depth for the planer to be installed. The foundation 
for a 62 X 62 X 14 foot planer is shown in Fig. 109. Concrete is used the most 
for this purpose. 

Adjusting plates are being quite extensively used between the planer bed 
and the foundation. Where the planer has feet, they rest on the adjusting 
plates, but where the bed extends clear to the foundation, they are distributed 
at such points as seem best to carry the weight and support the bed without 
strain at any point. 

Where adjusting blocks are not used, wedges having a slight taper should 
be so located as to support the bed perfectly and yet be out of the way of the 
feet, to avoid being jarred out of position and so affecting the alinement of the 
planer bed. Some prefer steel for wedges and others use cedar shingles. 

The adjusting blocks shown in Fig. no are made by the Cincinnati Planer 
Company. They are very simple in construction and can be easily adjusted 
after they are in place. 

With some such arrangement as this it is possible to correct quite an error 



FOUNDATIONS AND FLOOR PLATES 89 

in the planer bed itself or in the foundation, and to bring it back to level in 
either case. No machine will show the effect of the settling of the foundation 
more than a planer, and we know of one instance where the giving way of a 
heavy floor support was only detected through its effect on the planer which 
was supported by it. 

The adjusting plate shown in Fig. in is the one recommended by the 
Norton Grinding Company of Worcester, Mass., and used by them under all 
heavy machinery. 




Fig. hi. — Another type of leveling block. 

The concrete for the foundation is filled to within about 8 or 10 inches of 
the floor line and the adjusting plates located at the proper points. The four 
screws in each plate allow them to be adjusted very nicely and they are tested 
with a long straight-edge so as to hold tissue paper tight under all of them when 
the straight-edge is passed from one to the other. 

After they are adjusted to the desired accuracy the concrete is filled in 
practically level with the top of the plates but with spaces left so as to get 
at the end adjusting screw easily when this becomes necessary. After the 
machine is in place, covers are made for the openings over the screws to keep 
out dirt and chips. These are readily removed when necessary and the plates 
raised or lowered a fraction of a thousandth, by moving the wedges with the 
screws on the ends. 

These adjusting plates consist of a main casting underneath, which is 
made very heavy and which has a stiff truss beneath to prevent springing when 
the screws are tightened. The whole device is carefully made, the surfaces 
being all planed and the wedge guided by the customary spline and groove. 
The plate fits the entire surface of the wedge and it has been found best to 
put graphite between the surfaces in assembling, to insure a steady, instead of 
a jerky movement when adjustment becomes necessary. The ends of the 
plates are also planed to prevent lost motion. 

As evidence of the efficiency of this foundation, Mr. Norton cites an instance 
of an 18 X 3 6-inch planer with an 18-foot bed which was tested after a year's steady 
use and found to be in perfect alinement. A 15-foot straight edge was used and 
would hold tissue paper at any three points on the table with the table in any 
position on the bed. This is a very severe test and few planers are so mounted 



9° 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



as to show these results, especially with the table in different positions on 
the bed. 

A heavy concrete foundation of this kind with good leveling devices, make 
it possible to secure a higher degree of accuracy in planing than has sometimes 
been considered practical. They are somewhat expensive but planers properly 
supported do so much better work that much time is saved in scraping the work 
after planing and the time required to keep the planers themselves in first class 
condition is also much less than where adjusting plates and concrete foundations 
are not used. 




Fig. 112. — Leveling the bed. 

Another interesting fact in connection with these foundations in the Norton 
shop is that they do not find it necessary to bolt down a planer in any case. 
They drill the plates and put in a half inch pin at each side of one or more pairs 
of legs, to prevent sliding endwise. But they have cases where the pins did not 
touch the feet when the planer was put in place and in which the planer has 
never moved enough to bring the feet against the pin. 

There are grave differences of opinion on the question of bolting down 
planers at all as it is claimed that no planer which is heavy enough to do the 
work well will move at reversal and the belt pull can never lift them from 
their foundation. 



Leveling a Planer 

The main requirements of a planer are that the bed shall be true; that it be 
set level on the foundation and square with line shaft ; that it bears evenly on 
the. foundation or the plates or wedges; that it has sufficient bearing on it and 
that the cross rail be parallel or level with the table. 

The planer ways should be level both crosswise and lengthwise excepting 



TESTING THE CROSS RAIL 



91 



where the bed only has legs at the end in which case it need only be leveled 
crosrd'ise. This can be tested by removing table and using a good level, and 
then adjusting by the levelling blocks. The level should be long or be used on 
top of an accurate straightedge which is parallel on both sides and long enough 
to have a bearing across the bed as well as at widely separated points along the 
bed. 

Where the top edge of the bed is planed accurately with the ways, as with the 
Cincinnati planers, this surface can be used in testing, but unless you are sure 
that this edge is true, the measurements should be made from the V's themselves. 
This can easily be done by taking two round bars or gauges of equal diameter 
and of a size suitable to use in the V's, as shown in Fig. 112. This allows the 
bed to be tested in both directions as can be plainly seen. 




Fig. 113. — Testing the planer and cross rail. 

Tests should be made at short distances apart both lengthwise and crosswise 
and it is customary to leave the bed a trifle high in the center, near the housings. 

With a new planer tests should be made frequently to detect any settling 
or change in the foundation. 

Special care should be taken with the lengthwise testing as all planers are 
not tested to a long straightedge but simply scraped to fit the table. This 
simply insures a bearing but does not show that they are level or straight. 



Testing the Cross Rail 

Having levelled the bed the next thing is to see that the cross rail is true and 
parallel with the table, which has been put back into place on the bed. This 



9 2 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



can be done by measuring the distance between the cross rail and the table at 
the two sides of the table, using distance rods or a surface gage of some kind. 
If they are not the same, means of adjustment will be found on top of the bevel- 
gear in the uprights at each side in connection with the elevating screws. 
Always adjust by raising the low side, never by lowering the high side. 

Fig. 113 shows a dial indicator clamped to a tool by means of which the 
variations, if any, are measured in exact parts of an inch. A distance rod may 
be clamped in the tool post and a piece of hard paper used as a feeler. 




Fig. 114. — The special square used. 



Use a piece of paper in any case and get the reading first on one side of the 
table and then on the other. 

It was formerly considered necessary to plane off every table after the planer 
was set up, but modern practice is to plane each table on its own bed in the shop 
before it goes out, and it requires no planing if the bed is set as it should be on 
the foundation. In fact it is bad practice to plane the table in such a case 
as the trouble must be in the foundation and the wedges need adjusting. 



STARTING UP THE PLANER 

Securing Accuracy in Building Planers 



93 



Although the user of the planer is interested in securing the best kind of 
work more than in the way the planer was built, a brief description of the way 
they are tested while being assembled in the Cincinnati shop will be interesting 
and instructive. This will be particularly useful where the planer has been 
damaged in shipment or where its accuracy has been impaired by an accident 
of any kind. 




• Fig. 115. — Using the testing fixture. 

A special square, Fig. 114, is used for this work in order to secure extreme 
accuracy. This square has a special level accurately graduated so that each 
1/8 inch graduation represents a variation of .001 inch in 4 feet. 

The square is held against the housing and the position at which the bubble 
stops is noted. It is then placed against the opposite housing and the position 
again noted. Should they be different the graduations show how much they 
are out and in just what direction the correction must be made. When they 
have been adjusted so that the limit of error is one graduation or .001 inch of 
4 feet, the holes in the housings are reamed and they are doweled into place 
on the bed. 



94 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 




Fig. 116. — Testing the face of uprights. 




Fig. 117. — Testing the inside face. 



STARTING UP THE PLANER 



95 



After the bearings, shafts and gearing are put into the bed, the housings are 
put into place and tested before being permanently located on the bed. A 
fixture is placed across the bed as shown at A, Fig. 115. This fits into the V's 
and the edge shows when the housings are square with the V's. 

A straight-edge is then placed on this fixture against the ledge on the fixture 
and the faces of the housings tested for square with the bed. After this is done 
the housings are tested for square on the side and face. This is shown in Figs. 
116 and 117. 




Fig. 118. — Showing how belt should be crossed. 

Starting up the Planer 

After the planer is set up and leveled, place the countershaft as shown in 
blue print which comes with it, level accurately and get it parallel with the line 
shaft. Give loose pulleys and hanger boxes a good supply of machine oil and 
see that pulleys and shaft turn freely. Adjust the collars on shaft to allow a 
little end play in boxes but not too much. 



96 A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

Use good double belting of width called for and put on as directed. 

The cutting belt — the crossed belt in nearly all cases — should be crossed 
so that the side running back to the countershaft is on the inside toward the 
housing. The proper way is shown in Fig. 118 and is important. In this case 
the side of the belt operated on by the shifter forces the other side with it and 
the reversal is accomplished in less time than the other way. 

After the belting is in place, turn the pulleys and gearing by hand to be sure 
that everything is free before using power. 

The driving gears should have a good coat of heavy oil. The bearings and 
loose pulleys, as well as all oil holes, should have a good supply of the best 
machine oil two or three times a day for the first week. Large machines should 
be run idle a day or two before doing heavy work; this being more important 
than many realize. 

Before the table is put in place be sure the V's of both bed and table are 
clean and free from dirt, that the oil pockets in the bed are well cleaned out and 
filled with good machine oil. 

Don't take a cut off the top of a new planer table. It has been planed on 
its own bed and should be perfectly parallel with rail. 

If rail is not parallel with top of table, it is due to shipment strains in most 
cases. Reset top ledge of rail parallel to top of table by adjusting small hexagon 
nut on top of elevating bevel gears. 

Always raise the low side, never lower the high side. 

Don't brush chips or dirt from table into the V's. 

Don't clean out T slots in table without first running the table out so that 
no chips can fall into the V's or gears. 

Don't let chips accumulate around the bull wheel. 

Always use solid wrenches to keep corners on nuts sharp. 



Protecting the Ways and Table 

The ways of a planer must be true if good work is to be done and yet they 
are the most exposed of any bearing in any machine we use. On short work 
you often see a careful planer hand cover the end of the ways not being used, 
with narrow boards or with canvas. Some shops stretch a canvas or cotton- 
cloth canopy over the whole planer to keep dirt and chips from sifting down on 
the ways from the ceiling, from the cranes carrying castings with core sand in 
them or from the floor above when there is one. 

A good method of planer- way protection is shown in Fig. 119. This is 
patented by W. A. Thelin, foreman of the planer department of the Bullard 
Machine Tool Company, Bridgeport, Conn., where is has been in use for a 



PROTECTING THE WAYS AND TABLE 



97 



number of years and has been very satisfactory in reducing the wear and damage 
and keeping the planers in better condition. As will be seen, it consists of 
two strips of heavy duck wound upon spools located at the end of the bed, the 
outer ends of the strips (which are of course somewhat wider than the V's) 
being attached to the end of the platen at points directly over the ways. The 
spools are mounted, as upon a spring-actuated shaft which, upon the platen 
moving forward, permits the protecting strips to be unwound; the tension of 
the springs, which are wound up by the forward movement of the platen, acting 
precisely like a window-shade roller spring to keep the strips taut at all times and 
rewind them on the spools as the platen returns. 

To keep the canvas strips clear of the corners of the bed a pair of rollers 




Fig. 119. — Planer way protecting device. 



carried by swinging arms pivoted in suitable brackets are interposed between 
the bed and the spools. The pivoted members are weighted and normally the 
position of the rollers is that indicated at the left, the weights swinging the arms 
upward until a stop screw contacts with the end of the bed. In this position 
the rollers lift the strips above the ways and prevent their dragging on the edge 
of the bed during the travel of the platen. As the platen returns and the pro- 
tecting strips are wound up tight on their spools by the action of the springs, the 
two blocks secured to the under side of the strips come in contact with the 
rollers carried by the pivoted arms and swing them into the position shown at 
the right, out of the reach of the V's under the platen. Upon the reversal of 
the machine and the forward movement of the platen the rollers again swing up 
into normal position to lift the strips clear of the edge of the bed. 

They do not interfere in the least with long or short work and protect the 
ways at all times from cutting or scoring. 
7 



9 8 



A TREATISE ON PLANERS 



The table should be protected better than is done in many cases as it isn't a 
a good plan to use it for an anvil or a straightening plate, nor to let castings fall 
on it any more than necessary as it not only mars the table, but has a slight 
peening action that changes its shape more rapidly than might be expected. 




Fig. i 20. — Guard for counterweight. 



Some careful planer hands always lay boards or strips of old belting on the table 
when putting on heavy work in order to protect it from heavy blows should the 
work slip. These are then taken out by raising one side at a time and the work 
lowered onto the table itself. 

A very neat and efficient guard to protect workers from injury by the falling 
of the counterweight on planers or similar machines, is shown in Fig. 120. It is 



THE TRIGGER OR FEED GEAR 



99 



simply a light pipe of suitable diameter for the counterweight to go inside and 
having a flange for bolting to the floor. These are in use on all machines in the 
Cincinnati Planer Company's shop. 

The Trigger or Feed Gear 

As the satisfactory operation of the feed is very important in good planing 
the construction of the mechanism or trigger gear should be understood. This 






Fig. 121. — Planer feed gear assembled and taken apart. 



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O 



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^ Drill 




American Machinist 



Fig. 122. — Details of planer feed or trigger gear. 

feed gear unit is shown assembled at the left of Fig. 121 and at the right are the 
different parts, lettered to make the explanation easy to understand. Some of 
the details are also shownin Fig. 122. 

The central body or hub B is bored and splined for a key to suit the end of 
the feed rod or feed screw and adapted to receive the operating gear C which is 
free to rotate between the flanges on the end of the body B and the retaining 
ring D which is secured by a screw near the end. The body B is milled cross- 



IOO A TREATISE ON PLANERS 

wise to form a pocket to receive the pawl E which is normally held in neutral 
position by a flat spring plate F, seated at the bottom of this milled opening. 
The handle G can be turned to bring either of the working edges or the pawl 
into contact with the teeth inside the gear C. This connects the feed rod or 
screw with the movement of the feed gear train and transmits the feed in either 
direction as the handle G is turned into one or the other position. 



^ 



INDEX 



Accurate work, 1—89-92 

Arcs, planing attachments for, 67-69 

Apron, using for side cuts, 75 

Belting, to use, 95 
Blocking and bolts, 18 
Bolting planers down, 89 
Bridge fixture, 41 
Building accurate planers, 92 



Fixtures for planers, 29 

double, 33 

large, 44 
Floor head, use of, 62 

plates and foundations, 86 
Foundations and floor plates, 86 
Four-shaft drive, 7 
Friction flanges, planing, 38 
Furniture and stops, 17 



Chucks for holding work, 27 
Chucks, magnetic, 29 

planer, 27, 33, 61 
Clamping work, judgment in, 22 
Concave and convex arcs, 67 
Connecting rods, planing, 62 
Convex and concave arcs, 67 
Countershaft, two-speed, 84 
Counterweight guard, 97-98 
Crank case bearing, 60 
Crossing belt correctly, 95 
Crossrail, testing, 91 
Cutting belt is crossed, 95 

speeds, 76-78 

table travel, 79 

Drives for planers, 6-8 

Dials, using micrometer, 76 

Double tools, 12, 40 

Dovetail planing fixtures, 45, 49, 52 



Gage blocks, use of, 43 
Gages for planing, 48-51 

for planing machine ways or V's, 50 

for testing lathe beds, 46 
Gibs, form of, 55 

gages for, 55 

planing taper, 31-37 
Good and bad clamping of work, 25 
Guard for counterweight, 97—98 

Hard castings, marking, 73 
Holding, lugs for, 59 

thin work, 27 

work, 19, 59, 61 

Indicating crossrail, 91 
Index head, planing, 39 

Jacks for planers, 20 
Judgment in clamping work, 22 



Electric drives, reversible, 86 

variable speed, 85 
Estimating time with slide rule, 82 
Extension tool head, 63 

Feed for planer, 73 

gear for planers, 98 
Feet cut per hour, 79 
Finishing work, 1— 10-11 
Fitting the index block, 42 



Key way planing, 61, 71 

Lathe beds, planing, 45 
Large planing fixtures, 44, 48 
Leveling a planer, 90 

blocks, 88 
Lifter for tool, 73 
Light pulleys save power, 81 
Limits of accuracy, 93 
Lining up a planer, 90 



IOI 



102 



INDEX. 



Locomotive cylinders, planing, 57 

Magnetic chucks, 29 
Marking hard castings, 73 
Micrometer dials, 76 
Miller knees, planing, 38 
tables and parts, 34 

Names of parts of planer, 5 
Oil grooves in gibs, 72 

Paper strips in clamping, 23 
Parallel drives, 7 
Planer beds, planing, 57 

centers, 71 

drives, 6-8 

feed gear, 98 

feeds, 73 

jacks, 20 

names of parts, 5 

stone bed, 2 

tools for, 8-1 1 

templets, 53 

travel per foot, 80 
Planing connecting rods, 62 

crank case bearing, 60 

drill arms, 34 

fixtures, 29, 41, 44 

gages, using, 48 

index head, 39 

key ways, 61, 71 

lathe beds, 45 

locomotive cylinders, 57 

planer beds, 57 

round shafts, 61 

taper work, 26—31—37 
Plugs for planer table, 20 
Power for reversing, 81 

waste in heavy pulleys, 81 
Protecting ways and table, 96 

Radius planing, 65 

Return speeds, 78 

Right-angle drive, 8 

Roughing and finishing tools together, 

Round shafting, holding, 61 



59 



Setting up work, 26, 59 
Side cuts, using apron for, 75 
Slide rule, for timing work, 82 
Spacing blocks, 36 
Speed of cutting, 76—78 

return, 78 
Spiral planing devices, 63, 65 
Springing of work, 2 1 
Square for testing planers, 92 
Squaring up a planer, 91 
Starting up a planer, 93 
Stone bed planer, 2 
Stops and furniture, 17 
Straddle tools, 12—40 
Strains in metal, 2 1 
Straps or clamps, 24 
String planing, 34 
Surface gage, using, 26 
Supporting overhanging planer tools, 16 

Table of cutting travel, 79 

Table of protection, 98 

Tailstocks, planing, 51 

Taper work, methods of holding, 26, 31, 36 

Templets for planers, 53 

Testing fixtures for planers, 93 

inside face of housings, 94 

uprights, 94 

the crossrail, 91 

work in chuck, 27 
Thin work, holding, 27 
Three-shaft drives, 6 
Time of travel per foot, 80 
Tool lifter, 73 
Tools for planers, 8-14 
Trigger gear for planers, 98 
Two-speed countershaft, 84 

tools in one head, 59 

Uprights, testing, 94 
Undercutting tools, 14 
Using four tool-heads, 56 

planer apron, 7 5 
Variable speed electric drives, 85 
V's, protecting, 96 
Way or V protection, 96 
Work that should be planed, 3 



Setting up a planer, 92 



Zigzag planing, 72 



MAR 29 1912 



